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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 2 (June 1, 1929.)

Variations in Traffic and Revenue — 1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1929—as compared with last year

page 64

Variations in Traffic and Revenue
1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1929—as compared with last year.

District. Ordinary Ticket Train Passengers. Number. Season Tickets. Number. Bearer Tickets. Number. Road Motor Passengers. Number. Cattle, Calves. Number. Sheep, Pigs. Number. Timber. Tons. Other Goods. Tons.
Auckland -47,405 6,265 1,719 79,360 97,069 -20,250 78,437
Ohakune -13,239 235 3 5,610 -8,077 -9,605 9,119
Wanganui -13,827 120 64 51,519 -2,140 1,703 32,263
Wellington -89,494 17,052 -1,038 26,768 -30,797 -1,895 42,384
Total N.I.M.L.B. -163,965 23,672 748 2,029,570 163,257 56,055 -30,047 162,203
Christchurch -10,455 9,650 549 27,475 115 4,273 32,133 67,439
Dunedin -7,657 9,884 697 -736 -671 228,748 -3,362 48,664
Invercargill -21,655 280 98 -183 109,310 -4,049 8,844
Total S.I.M.L.B. -39,767 19,814 1,344 26,739 -739 342,331 24,722 124,947
Westport -5,855 -143 - 61 -907 -223 -20,931
Other Small Sections 2,431 -286 -12 704 26,309 -453 -930
Grand Total *-207,156 43,057 2,080 2,056,309 163,283 423,788 -6,001 265,289

Revenue.

District Passengers. £ Parcels. £ Goods. £ Road Motor. £ Miscellaneous. £ Total Increase or Decrease. £
Auckland -8,515 4,658 30,767 - 5,402 32,312
Ohakuni -1,065 154 -10,804 - 52 -11,663
Wanganui -4,412 -894 7,050 - -1,822 -78
Wellington -19,099 1,272 44,971 65,975 959 94,078
Total N.I.M.L.B. -33,091 5,190 71,984 65,975 4,591 114,649
Christchurch -1,755 -872 56,453 3,953 748 58,527
Dunedin -73 -1,146 16,110 -129 -1,177 13,585
Invercargill -2,811 -1,248 -2,157 - 33 -6,183
Total S.I.M.L.B. -4,639 -3,266 70,406 3,824 -396 65,929
Westport -374 -89 -2,752 - -697 -3,912
Other Small Sections 1,489 143 3,296 - -108 4,820
Grand Total -36,615 1,978 142,934 69,799 3,390 181,486

Note.—“Minus” sign indicates decrease. In all other cases the figures indicate the increase in number, quantity or amount.

The total operating revenue for the Dominion shews an increase of £181,486 for the thirteen periods as compared with the corresponding periods last year. Heavy traffic in livestock and “other goods” and extended operations by the Department in road motor services are the main causes of the increased revenue.

The decrease in the number of “ordinary” passengers carried is offset somewhat by a substantial increase in the “season” and “bearer” tickets issued. The number of passengers carried on our road motor services shews an increase of 2,056,309.

The increase in cattle traffic in the North Island and on the small section is due chiefly to heavy traffic in day-old calves for the boneless veal industry. The position in the South Island is almost normal.

The number of sheep and pigs carried by rail shows a large increase, especially in the South Island, where, during March, there has been heavy traffic in fat lambs to the various freezing works and large numbers of store sheep have changed hands. The increase in the North Island is mainly in the Auckland District, due to large yardings at markets and heavy traffic in fat lambs.

Timber traffic is gradually improving, especially in the South Island, due to the improved state of the timber trade in the Christchurch District. The general traffic is adversely affected, however, in the Auckland and Ohakune Districts, through several mills ceasing operations.

The tonnage of “Other Goods” conveyed by rail discloses a substantial increase of 265,000 tons. The increase, which is general for all the Districts with the exception of Westport and other small sections), is mainly due to heavy traffic in metal, manure, frozen meat, grain and wool. The decrease on the Westport Section is the result of adverse weather conditions and shipping fluctuations affecting the movement of coal.