PALMERSTON RAILWAY STATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 225, 17 June 1920, Page 5

PALMERSTON RAILWAY STATION

BOROUGH COUNCIL APPROVES CHANGE OF SITE. From Our Special Correspondent.' Palmerston North, June IC. The Palmerston North Borough Council on Tuesday evening discussed the proposal of the Railway Department to move the station from its present site to one just outside the borough boundary. The Mayor pointed out tliat tho Departmost was faced with the position that the land at its disposal on the present site was quite insufficient to allow of the necessary extension of the yards, and the proposal was .to move the station to the corner of Rangitikei Street and Boundary Road. The line would deviate at Longburn, and would 'pass Palmerston North just outside the boundary,' uniting with thie lines to Wanganui and Napier just above Terrace End. This would, of course, do away with the present flag station at Terrace End, but another station would be provided, a, little further from town, which would serve that district. ' The proposed routo would cut the distance by about threequarters of 1 a mile. It was anticipated that the 'work would take about three years to complete. • The main advantages would be the provision of an up-to-date railway station, with. the. requisite yard room, which would provide for the everincreasing traflic. The change would do away with the dangerous level crossings in the town, and Main Street would be a fine thoroughfare, after the removal of the lines, extending from Longburn to Terraco End. The proposed change would make necessary considerable alterations to schemes which the council had in hand and in contemplation. The construction of the additions to the gas works, as well as tho situation of the proposed electric powerhouse, might have to be altered, so thtat these- might be nearer the new station in order-that sidings might be provided for handling oral, etc. Some of the citizens would be Mt rather hud by the change, but on the whole it would bea great benefit to the town. It would be recessary to get an Authorisation Bill through ParHament, and the proposal the question of tramways as an absolute 'Tletter was read from the General Manager of Railways, m which ho stated flSit in the past twenty yearsthe railway business in Palmerston No th had increased by 300 per cent., the outward live stock business had risen by 600 per cent., timber traffic by 400 per cent other goods by 200 per cent., and the revenue by 600 per cent. The number of ■alway vehicles handled at Pnlmerston North during the day ranged from 1500 to 2000, exclusive' of those on through tainT Apart altogether from the consideration of local requirements, it wa imperatively necessary that the accommodation at such an important subSinai railway station should be .sufficient to provide for the- requirements.of S. ever-increasing rota™ of traffic .that had to be dealt with there _ Several councillors *avmg expreesea their approval of the proposed change of .ire the following resolution was carried his council supports the proposal nf X Railway Department to remove fhA railway to the northern part of the ings." . ■