HEAVIER TRAFFIC

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20692, 30 December 1938, Page 6

HEAVIER TRAFFIC

RUSH ON RAILWAYS MOST TRAINS FULLY BOOKED THOUSANDS USE SERVICE (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday During the Christmas rush period extending from December 21 to December 27, 16,300 passengers left Wellington by rail and 10,400 arrived. It was the busiest Christmas experienced by the Railway Department for many years. Although detailed figures are not yet available the traffic on most lines is believed to have been heavier than ever before. Of the 26,700 people who arrived or left Wellington by train during the Christmas period the majority travelled to and from the Auckland district. Approximately 5700 people left Wellington for Auckland during the period, and approximately 4100 came to Wellinigton from Auckland. Outward trains from Wellington, particularly on the Main Trunk line, were heavier than the inward trains, one reason being that although an express would leave Auckland fully booked many passengers would alight at intermediate stations south of Frankton Junction. Although the actual figures are not available passenger bookings for the inter-island express steamers were heavy this Christmas, and more people travelled from Wellington to Lyttelton by sea than during the 1937 rush period. Compared with last year, however, slightly fewer passengers travelled from Lyttelton to Wellington this Christmas. Passenger traffic between Wellington and Picton was about the same as in previous years.