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
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.