LARGE CROWDS , TRAVEL BY TRAINS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 21 December 1928, Page 9

LARGE CROWDS , TRAVEL BY TRAINS.

BUSY SCENES AT CHRISTCHURCH STATION The rush of holiday traffic by the railways has now set in, and this morning the scene at the Christchurch station prior to the departure of the first express for the south was a particularly animated one. The express comprised fifteen passenger cars, two luggage vans and a postal van, this being the maximum load that it is possible to take now that the travelling time has been reduced. Two extra cars were also added to the West Coast express to-day, the total being only one short of the maximum which it is possible to take with one engine. The other trains were also very well patronised, but the main rush was on the south and East Coast expresses, owing to the number of people travelling to the holiday resorts. The express for Invercargill leaving to-night will also probably comprise the maximum number of cars. Already six extra cars have been provided for and it is anticipated that two more will be required in order to cope with the heavy bookings. The night expresses are proving very popular with large numbers of holiday-makers, and Sunday night’s train is already fully booked up. The 12.25 p.m. express to Dunedin to-day left with a full complement of passengers. To-morrow will probably prove the heaviest day as far as railway travelling is concerned, and although extra expresses are being run at 9.10 a.m. and 12.45 p.m., all the trains are practicall\' fully booked up. The arrivals in Christchurch from the south are not as numerous as the departures, this being mainly due to the fact that there are a large number of North Island people going south this year. The Railway Department has received the following advice regarding North Island trains:—

To-day—7.s2 a.m. Wellington-Auck-land daylight. Limited, fully booked; 2 p.m. Wellington-Auckland full; 7.15 Wellington-Auckland, no sleeping berths left. To-morrow—7.s2 a.m. WellingtonAuckland daylight. Limited, secondclass full; 2 p.m. Wellington-Auckland, full. Sunday—7.ls p.m. Wellington-Auck-land, no sleeping berths left. -Monday—7.ls p.m. Wellington-Auck-land, Tull. Tuesday—7.ls p.m. Wellington-Auck-land, full. Wednesday—7.s2 a.m. daylight, Limited, second-class full. On trains which have not been mentioned accommodation was still available yesterday'. FERRY TRAFFIC. The ferry steamer Maori arrived from the north this morning with a full complement of passengers, the number being over 750. Accommodation was found for some of the passengers on shakedowns on the deck. The Maori will make a daylight trip to Wellington on Sunday on the arrival of a train leaving Christchurch at 7.45 a.m., and the Wahine which is also making a special daylight trip from Wellington on Sunday, will leave Lyttelton on Monday morning on the arrival of the 7.45 train.. The Maori leaves Wellington for Lyttelton on Monday' morning and returns the same night as usual.