PALMERSTON RAILWAY PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2139, 12 June 1920, Page 3

PALMERSTON RAILWAY PROPOSALS.

t v SUGGESTED DIVERSION OF LINE.

It has been known for some days past that proposals have been made by the Railway Department for alterations to the route of the railway line that at present runs through the main portion of Palmerston North, says the Standard. These proposals were placed before members of the Borough Council at a conference held a few days ago with 21 r R. W. McVilly (general manager) and oilier prominent officials of the Railway Department. At that conference the representatives of the Press were excluded, and subsequently the only information given was Unit matters of a very important nature had been discussed, and that they would come before the Borough Council at an early dale, and would then he made public. When approached by a Standard reporter Mr McVilly declined to make any statement, refusing to say whether there had or had not been any suggestion that the railway line should be diverted. A certain amount of informa I ion regarding the

matter has, however, leaked out, and it is now known that definite proposals have been made for a diversion of (he line. For a considerable time past the accommodation at the local station has been entirely inadequate, and the Department has been considering how the much-needed additional space could be obtained. The congestion has been becoming more ami more acute, and one railway official staled this morning that if the traffic increased during the neyt live years at the

present rate —as (here is every reason to anticipate —it. would be entirely impossible to handle the irafJic in the present station yards. The suggested diversion of the line is from a point southward of the present station to somewhere north of Terrace End, making a junction there with the line from Napier. This would neeessitate the building of an entirely new station, at which presumably sufficient accommodation would be provided for many years to come, and where buildings would be erected more in keeping Avith the importance of the Palmerston North junction than the present structures (hat do duly for that purpose. Should he line he diverted, the proposed closing of Cook Street Avould lie unnecessary, and the present level railway crossings in the

town would, of course, be done away

Avith. It Avould also necessitate the moving of the gasworks to a place at Avhich they could obtain a siding to the raihvay, and the provision of a site for the electric poAvcr station close to the noAv raihvay line. Another possibility connected with the change, if made, would be the provision of a particularly wide street through the centre of the toAvn along which a tramway line could run without any of the disadvantages that Avere .formerly urged against making such a line along the narroAV thoroughfares in Main Street East and Main Street West. There would, of course, he many objections to the removal of. the raihvay station aAvay from the town, and ttyere is no analogy betAvcen tin; position at Frankton and Hamilton and Avhat Avould obtain in Palmerston .North. Although Frankton is a very busy junction, the traffic there is not nearly so great as it ;s in Palmerston North, while in Hamilton the station is practically in the middle of the toAvn. If the proposed diversion is made here there avouUl be no station in the town itself. Before anything definite could lie done in the Avay of making a ucav lino an Authorisation - Bill would have to be passed by Parliament, and to get. this done the consent of the Borough Council avouUl be necessary. The rumours of'considerable speculation in connection Avitli property on account of the suggested diversion of the line seem to have but little foundation in fact. It is true that a. small house, and section in Rangitikei Line near Boundary road changed hands this Aveek, but there has not been any considerable dealing in land in the vicinity of the suggested line.