Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 10 (February 1, 1928)

Variations in Traffic and Revenue — as compared with last year—1st April 1927, to 7th January, 1928

page 48

Variations in Traffic and Revenue
as compared with last year—1st April 1927, to 7th January, 1928.

District Passengers. Number. Season. Number. Bearer-tickets. Number. Cattle, Calves. Number. Sheep Pigs. Number. Timber. Tons. Other Goods Tons.
Auckland −95,488 11,541 4,126 36,414 122,907 −8,950 46,356
Ohakune −38,237 −571 71 5,100 11,858 −22,450 −1,868
Wanganui −58,125 −497 69 22,009 11,572 −1,197 18,653
Wellington 200,291 10,359 1,497 −11,987 4,200 −254 −30,045
Total N.I.M.L.B. 8,441 20,832 5,763 51,536 150,537 −32,851 33,096
Westport −1,468 1 −7 −44 −586 −3,584 −27,205
Christchurch −86,317 3,954 143 −32 −82,543 −32,971 54,612
Dunedin −129,697 4,001 −696 −1,906 −17,679 −833 27,644
Invercargill −79,014 −428 31 464 56,499 −3,299 −14,913
Total S.I.M.L.B. −295,028 7,527 −522 −1,474 −43,723 −37,103 67,343
Grand Total −288,055 28,360 5,234 50,018 106,228 −73,538 73,234
Revenue
District Passengers. Parcels. Goods. Miscellaneous. Total increase or decrease.
£ £ £ £ £
Auckland −30,424 1,322 38,674 −3,433 6,139
Ohakune −9,345 302 −28,403 −1,329 −38,775
Wanganui −13,161 −1,177 5,729 −1,819 −10,428
Wellington −15,433 −462 −31,932 9,221 −38,606
Total N.I.M.L.B. −68,363 −15 −15,932 2,640 −81,670
Westport −148 25 −5,601 −2,750 −8,474
Christchurch −23,287 579 8,065 9,738 −4,905
Dunedin −20,253 −1,975 8,452 −1,071 −14,847
Invercargill −18,361 −1,421 11,406 −805 −9,181
Total S.I.M.L.B. −61,901 −2,817 27,923 7,862 −28,933
Grand Total −130,412 −2,807 6,390 7,752 −119,077

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

The decrease in the number of ordinary passengers carried (288,055) shows an improvement of 20,000 from the position existing at 12th November last, due to an increase of travelling throughout the Christmas holiday period. The further decline in passenger revenue indicates shorter distance travelling with fuller use of concession rates.

The heavy traffic in the closing stages of the Dunedin Exhibition in April, 1926, accounts for a portion of the total decrease.

Season and bearer tickets show an appreciable increase.

The carriage of large numbers of calves in connection with the recently formed industry for the export of boneless veal is responsible for the increase under the heading of cattle and calves.

At the close of the November period the number of sheep and pigs transported was just equal to the previous year. The increase at the present date is therefore attributed to the dry spell, the consequent shortage of feed tending to hasten the sending of stock to freezing works.

A decrease of 73,538 tons of timber is offset by an increase in other goods of 73,234 tons. Less poles are now required for electric reticulation while the decreasing demand for native timber has an unfavourable effect on rail transportation, the result which may be plainly seen in the goods revenue figures for the Ohakune district. The districts showing increases in other goods owe their positions mainly to the carriage of bulk commodities, while the comparatively small increase in goods revenue indicates that the increase is mostly in low grade freight.