STEADY INCREASE IN GOODS TRAFFIC

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19268, 3 January 1931, Page 6

STEADY INCREASE IN GOODS TRAFFIC

NEW RECORD REACHED FOR THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

Since the Otira tunnel was opened on August 4, 1923, there has been a steady increase in the volume of goods traffic passing through it from west to east, the total amounting to 3,354,767 tons. The total for 1930 reached a new high level, 619,999 tons being brought through. This represents an increase of 38,783 tons on the total for 1929.

The tonnage of goods, comprising mostly coal and timber, passing through the tunnel has grown each year. For the four months of 1923 that the tunnel was open, 88,171 tons were hauled through. In 1924, the first complete year after the opening of the tunnel, 302,044 tons were handled, and in the following years the totals have been:—l92s, 354,867; 1926, 421,906; 1927, 499,996; 1928, 536,538; 1929, 581,216; 1930, 619,999. Though the tunnel was designed to carry a maximum of 1000 tons a day, the volume of goods now passing through it averages over 2000 tons a working day. The following table affords a comparison of the traffic each month in 1925 and 1929, with that during the past year:—

Only One Interruption. On onl} r one occasion, apart from public holidays, was the goods service through the tunnel interrupted. That was on January 16, when the line was blocked as a result of a wash-out. In previous years interruptions to the service were more frequent. A deadlock in the mining industry in 1924 caused the coal traffic to drop off for some time in that year, while serious floods in 1925 did a great deal of damage to the line. Wash-outs caused a hold-up of traffic for nine days on end in 1926, while the destruction of the Blackball railway bridge in that year cut the mine off for some months. In 1929 the most serious trouble was the subsidence of the line due to the earthquake on June 17. This was repaired within two days, however, and traffic was soon normal again. Favourable Conditions. During the period that the Newcastle mines in New South Wales were closed the West Coast mines enjoyed a period of great prosperity, and in the first half of the past year traffic through the tunnel was exceptionally heavy. Serious trouble experienced with .the Grey bar for some time caused a diversion of goods traffic to the railway owing to shipping being greatly hampered by shallow water. The peak traffic load occurred in May, when 72,146 tons were hauled through the tunnel. This was 8367 tons more than the previous record total of 63,579 tons handled in August, 1929. In July last the traffic brought through amounted to 65,651 tons, but since then, due chiefly to the re-opening of the Newcastle mines, the traffic has been falling away steadily, each month’s total being lower than that for the corresponding month in 1929. The heaviest week as regards volume of traffic handled was the one ended on March 31, when 20,129 tons were brought through, and the heaviest day was May 31, when the traffic totalled 4936 tons, no fewer than eighteen trains being required to cope with it. On July 24 the total tonnage was 3607. The quantity of timber brought

from the West Coast has not been so large as in some, previous years, the reduction in building operations in the city having compelled the closing of a number of the sawmills. Carrying Motor-Cars. • T , h l sy ? tem which was inaugurated in 1928 of carrying motor-cars on special trains from Springfield to Otira and vice versa proved to be very successful in 1930, especially during holiday periods. . The greatest number of cars trucked in any one day was fifteen on JJecember 20. The carriage of stock from the West Coast to the Addington market has also increased during the year There is no record kept of the traffic from east to west, as this consists mainly of empty waggons. The goods tonnage is gradually increasing, however, and the rates offered to consignees are attractive.

1925. 1929. 1930. January 20,050 40,329 43,777 February . 26,411 43,199 53,402 March ... 28,959 38,593 55,269 April ... 26,026 43,616 50,285 May 34,672 56,279 72,140 June .... 34,862 42,548 59,329 July 30,202 58,659 65,651 August 35,309 63,579 59,619 September 29,259 52,861 44,231 October .. 27,134 47,553 41,382 November . 28,134 47,524 38,719 December . 24,849 44,476 36,189 Totals 354,867 581,216 619,999