SUBURBAN TRAINS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1435, 9 May 1912, Page 2

SUBURBAN TRAINS.

DEPUTATION AGAIN. THE NEEDS OF JOHNSONVILLE. A deputation of .lohnsnnvillo residents, introduced by Mr. W. 11. 1). Bell, M.l'., called upon the Minister for Railways '(lie Him. A. M. Myers-) yesterday to ask for improved railway facilities for that suburb. , Mr. W. L. Thompson, chairman of tho Town Board, spoke of tho need for further Mutinn accommodation at Jnhnsonviile. It had boeii promised that when the station at Paekaluiriki was finished, Johnsoiivillc would bo the next one to bo taken in hand. Under present conditions, local trains were side-trucked to mako way for through trains, and people alighting from the local (rains had to walk I between trams, whilu people coming to tho station from the township had to cross the line in front; of approaching trams. He had. seen many narrow escapes from M?n'ou.s accidents. He also asked that the arc lamps in the station yam he lit at nigh! for (ho benefit of passengers going In mid from the station, they understood (lint plans for an arrival platform had been prepared, and tney asked that the work bo put in hand as moil as possible. The Towis Hoard had considerable sums of money on public services-, nml they expected" (ho population to increase, but it would bo greatly hindered unless they could (jet proper railway facilities. Tho'v also risked Hint thi> express trains should not pass liiroiigh (ho township and over the level crossings at so high a speed, or, as an alternalivp. Hint moans should Iμ? taken to warn people of the approach of trains. There was also danger to people on the roads from the Fimntiiiy operations, as their approach could not be well seen fro»i the road. The early morning train ■fioni .lolins.inviilu to town had been a qunrler of ail hour late every day this week, and this was a vory serious'inconvenience to working men. Mr. Thompson also read ronliilion° passr-il bv ii recent public meeting at .lolinsonv'ille, embodying thn jnnllcrs he had already mentioned, and also a request, that the curly morning and evening trains In and from tnivn should run to and from Lainbtcui Station. The latter request, he said, would be pieced before the Minister I shortly by u deputation representing 1 N?am anil Khamiail.ih, as well as JohiiEonyillc. •Sir U'illiani Stownrci emphasised the complaints of inconvenience through the iiii!j('(|uato .station accommodation. It was an absolute necessity, and the cost would bo moderate. The lift.';! for a new gcoiis Mied ;it ■lohnsouvillo was urged by Sir. J, T. Hall, who also .suggested (ho constructioii of subways in-.tead of overhead bridges when the now platform was built. The Minister, in reply, said the question of a new station and a rearrangement of the railway facilities of Johnsonvillo had already engaged the attention of his otiieers. The- cost would he considerable, rs it would take .£IO,OOO to complete the comprehensive scheme for a new railway station, new goads shed, and other necessary maiters. There was no record of a promise having been made in the matter, though whether there was osie or not, it would not influence the present position. He realised the needs of a growing township like Johnsonrillc. It, was only a question of time when these matters would have to be gone into. He mils not prepared fo miike any promise as to when it would be possible to put the work in hand, except to say (hat it would be duly considered with ninny similar requests at the earliest possible opportunity. He would give- orders to have the station yard lamps lit us requested, and he. would have a porter placed at the level crossing when the expresses were going through, to warn the public The question of footbridge or subway would be decided on its merits. Tho unpunctufllity of the morning train to town would be inquired into, and anything that was wrong would bo rectified. AVhon he was able to make n more definite statement on these matters he would inform Mr. Hell.