THE HOLIDAY RUSH

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 7

THE HOLIDAY RUSH

ELABORATE TIME-TABLES. MORE PEOPLE TRAVELLING. CONGESTION AT FRANKTON. Something akin to an intricate jigsaw puzzle whose parts have to be pieced together, railway services in their scope and punctuality over the Christmas and New Year holiday periods represent a triumph of organisation. Not only are there extra expresses on many of the main lines, but, in addition, the same freight services have to be maintained and provision made for special trains such as those bound for lue Ellerslie Races. As well, in order that no delays may he occasioned, the intinerary of the Duke of Gloucester has to be carefully borne in mind. A Franlcton Junction railway official this morning described the holiday traffic as the heaviest for many years, and, although it js not possible to drawn any comparisons until tiie oflicial figures are compiled, there seems every indication that the returns of the previous several years will be eclipsed. Almost all the expresses are booked out, and in some cases, notably in North Auckland, it has been necessary to provide additional trains. Every, seat on the .Limited Expresses to and from Wellington have been occupied during the last several days ; and m§ny travellers have had to he content with standing room at various stages of the journey. Last evening the relief express for Wellington and the special New Plymouth train were full, while the Daylight Limited express which left Auckland this morning was fully booked as early as yesterday afternoon. Months of Preparation. Behind these elaborate time-tables there lies months of arduous preparation. ■ln a 'Country such as New Zealand, where in the main a single-line system is in vogue, difficulties for the train-planners are increased a hundredfold, and it would not be an exaggeration to say tiiat thousands of train-crossings have to he arranged daily. Under these circumstances it is only to be expected that some delay would ensue, but the punctuality of all services has been remarkable. Many trains are running a few minutes late, but there is no delay of any great consequence. For officials on the railway, from the porter to the district traffic organisers and the general manager, Christmas is no holiday. For them the gladdest season of the year means a succession of 24-hour days into each of which are crammed the tasks of a month. Dashing hither and thither, answering many questions, handling luggage, shunting trains, advising passengers and doing their best to; get every service away to time, 'theirs’ is a thankless job, with the public every ready to hurl brick-bats rather than bouquets at a staff working at high pressure. The departure of special trains to Rotorua this morning with tourists from the Strathnaver added to the congestion, and all of the ■ larger stations in the province were thronged with tourists and intending passengers. Almost all night through congestion was apparent at the Frankton station , while between the arrival and departure of the principal expresses, the scene bore a typical Paddington . air. Vast Quantiles of Luggage. It is remarkable to see the huge quanlies of luggage that accompany passengers on their holiday tours. Hand trucks, loaded high with a miscellany of hags, portmanteaux and mysterious sacks and parcels, pass to and fro along the platform at Frankton. Agitated enquiries come from passengers continually as to the safet> of their possessions, but it is to the credit of the department that there have been exceptionally few cases of inconvenience, in this ’connectio. Road services are likewise not excepted to the scurry and bustle of Christmas. Victoria Street this morning boasted a succession of long, lean motor-coaches halted for a few moments before they recommenced their long journeys to all parts of the island They had little spare accomodation and the arrival of a coach was the signal for a ©urging crowd on the pavement to rush for seats.