D.—2

XXVI

The particulars of the mileage run in the various sections of railway are as follows :—

j I I During the past year fast passenger-trains have been provided between Wanganui and New Plymouth, and between Napier and Palmerston North. The Wanganui - New Plymouth train has a connection from Marton with the Limited express from Auckland, while the Napier - Palmerston North train connects at Palmerston North with the Limited express for Auckland and with a fast train for Wellington. The provision of these services has therefore opened a good connecting-link with the Auckland-Wellington Limited expresses. The Aucldand-Whangarei-Opua expresses which terminated at Whangarei on three days of the week during a portion of the year were made through trains from September, thus giving the northern district facilities for daily communication with Auckland. The suburban services radiating from the main centres received close attention during the year. Additional trains were provided, and a number of adjustments were made to better meet the convenience of passengers. In the Wellington suburban area it was possible by co-ordination of the Department's road and rail services to effect substantial economies, certain of the trains during the slack portion of the day being eliminated and the passenger traffic transferred to the Department's buses. Punctuality of Trains. The record of train punctuality, while not up to last year's standard, is satisfactory, considering the many and varied adverse circumstances contended with. Certain seasonal commodities have been heavy this year, and, instead of producing a steady flow of traffic over a period, weather conditions have caused peak rushes to form. An extraordinary peak tends to congestion, from which initial delays expand and have far-reaching effects. The sheep traffic this year, for instance, was somewhat later than usual in moving, and the unusual movement is reflected in the time-keeping of trains towards the close of the year. The Easter traffic for 1929 was handled in March, and the consequential delays which arise out of heavy holiday traffic have caused an inflation of the figures for the 1928-29 year. A number of mishaps (engine-failures, derailments, and other line-interruptions) have occurred at a time of the day which caused a maximum of interference with passenger services. Severe damage caused in August by a storm to the sea-wall protecting the Hutt line has been responsible for much lata running of the suburban trains. The unpunctuality is not confined to the suburban area only, and its effect is far-reaching. The checks received in the suburban area are often reflected on trains passing through the Wairarapa, and even affect express and other trains connecting at Woodville.

Average Late Arrivals of Trains, Year ended 31st March, 1929.

Section. 1928-29. j 1927-28. Increase. I ! Miles. Kaihu .. .. .. .. .. 17,393 17,738 Dec. 345 Gisborne .. .. .. .. .. 76,586 82,211 Dec. 5,625 North Island Main Line and Branches .. .. 6,705,512 6,479,921 225,591 South Island Main Line and Branches .. .. 4.095,546 4,049,450 46,096 Westport .. .. .. .. .. 92,311 94,140 Dec. 1.829 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 59,725 63,292 Dec. 3,567 Picton .. .. .. .. .. 66,409 51,842 14,567 11,113,482 10,838,594 274,888

Period ended Averase Vear ended • tor Year April. May. June. July. August. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. M | r ch March Minutes ' Express and Mail Trains. 31st March, 1929 I 8-48 j 7-20 j 6-62 I 5-06 I 4 32 ) 4-84 I 3-19 ; 3-97 I 3-75 | 9-95 | 6-25 i 9-09 I 13-76 6 65 31st March, 1928 ! 10 15 ! 5-50 ! 0-25 I 3-77 [10-34 110-98 1 2-40 3-06 ! 3-11 ; 910 ! 6-46 1 5-65 | 4-05 ! 6 22 Long-distance Mixed Trains. 31st March, 1929 111-43 j 8-64 j 6-28 , 4-67 j 4-33 1 4-70 4 73 4-85 5-64- 8-35 I 7-68 111-47 13-39 i 7-40 31st March, 1928 [ 11-87 ! 7-81 ' 6 26 1 4-35 ! 5-96 ' 4-23 ! 3-27 3-95 3 84 6-37 I 6-79 | 6-26 | 7-96 6-07 Suburban Trains. 31st March, 1929 j 0-62 0 50 0-58 0-61 1 69 2-90 ! 0-93 j 1-13 0-79 1-33 1-18 1-36 1-67 1 17 31st March, 1928 J 1 47 0 77 0-76 0-62 0 71 0-55 ; 0-4.6 ! 0-55 0-58: 0-76 0-78 0-93 0-69 ; 0-79 I ! I I ! These figures include delays arising from ali causes, including floods, slips, washouts, engine and other mechanical failures, and traffic delays at stations.