MORE PASSENGERS BY RAIL

Southland Times, Issue 23954, 21 October 1939, Page 4

MORE PASSENGERS BY RAIL

Increase Shown In Monthly Returns SUBSTANTIAL ; RISE IN REVENUE The number of passengers carried by rail in the Southland district during the four-weekly period ended October 14 shows a substantial increase, compared with the corresponding period last year. This is the first time for many months that passenger traffic has shown such an improvement. Traffic has increased in all sections except timber, according to the returns for the period. There were 3382 more passengers travelling than in the same period last year. Passengers by the department’s road motor-services also show an increase -of 238. More than 4000 more sheep were carried by rail. Railway- revenue has shown a greater increase on last year than has the volume of traffic; this is explained by this year’s increase in rates. Passenger traffic realized £1448 more, general goods brought in an increase of £4566 and road motor goods showed a very large increase. The figures for the four-weekly period, with those for the corresponding period last year, are as follows:—

TRAFFIC 1938 1939 Passengers 27,822 24,440 Season tickets 614 480 Road motor passengers 1,707 1,469 Road motor tons 109 19 Cattle 1,946 1,840 Sheep 10,658 6,645 Timber (tons) 1,855 2,119 Other goods (tons) 47,856 46,381 REVENUE £ £ Passengers 5,289 3,841 Season tickets 214 181 Parcels 534 501 Goods 33,936 29,370 Road motor passengers ; 632 535 Road motor goods 295 78 Miscellaneous 2,005 1,581 ■1 - ■ 1 1 II TOTALS 42,905 36,087