RAILWAY ROUTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2285, 4 June 1921, Page 3

RAILWAY ROUTES.

COMMISSION’S FINDING

PALMERSTON DEVIATION APPROVED.

LEVIN-GR EAT FORD DEVIATION

UNWARRANTED

The Commission appointed to report upon the proposed removal of the Palmerston North railway station has recommended the adoption of the Railway Department’s scheme. The Commission has reported against any deviation at present in the Wellington-New Plymouth line. The Commission comprised Messrs W. M. Hannav, L Marchbanks, and A. IT. Miles.

The questions referred to the Commission were as follows: — 1. Whether the facilities now existing at Palmerston North for the conduct of the business of the Government Railways Department are sufficient and suitable for that purpose.

2. If such facilities are not sufficient, or are not suitable for such what alteration therein (whether in respect of situation or otherwise howsoever) are necessary and desirable, and best adapted to enable the businss of the said Department to be carried on with the greatest degree of safety, efficiency, economy, and convenience. 3. Whether it is desirable and expedient and warranted in and by the public interest that any deviation of the Wellington-New Plymouth railway should be made between Puekaknriki and Marton; and if so, between what points such deviation should be made.

INEDEQUATE FACILITIES

Answering the first question, the Commission states: We are of the opinion that Ihe present facilities for the conduct of the railway lmsine.~s at Palmerston North are quite inadequate for that purpose. r l he operations of the Railway Department can, under present conditions, be carried on only at considerable risk of injury to those engaged therein, while the necessity for frequent shunting across Cook Street and the Square is a source of considerable inconvenience and danger to the public. The lack of proper and sufficient goods shed accommodation and standing sidings renders it quite impossible to deal with the goods traffic satisfactorily, thus materially retarding the economic turn-over of the rolling stock, and involving the customers of the Railway Department in inconvenience and loss through being unable to obtain prompt delivery and despatch of their goods. The station platform accommodation is also insufficient to enable the Department to discharge its functions in the passenger branch efficiently and economically, and with due regard to the convenience of the publie.

CHOICE OF NEW SITE,

•‘ln regard to the second question submitted to us, we are of opinion that, apart from other considerations, the very great expenditure and destruction of buildings, which would be involved in securing a sufficient area of land to reasonably provide for present and probable future requirements at the site of I he present station, renders it practically impossible to retain the station on that site. In the course of i he inquiry two schemes for providing the necessary facilities on other sites were submitted to us. The first was that proposed by the Railway Department. This involves a deviation of the present line, commencing at or about Longbum station, and rejoining the present main line at about the 91i mile peg (between Terrace End and Bunnythorpe stations). Under this proposal the location of the railway station would be on the northern side of Boundary Road, in the vicinity of Rangitikei Street. The other scheme was that submitted by or on behalf of those who were opposed to that propounded by the Railway Department. Under this second scheme it was proposed to retain the present route through Palmerston North, and to construct a new station and yards on a site between the present location and Awapuni station. We have carefully considered these schemes, and the evidence given in respect thereof, and after mature deliberation we have come to the conclusion that the first, namely, that submitted by the Railway Department, should be adopted. In making this recommendation, we desire to mention that we are satisfied that it would be possible to construct a properlyequipped station, giving the necessary facilities, on the site proposed in the second scheme. It should be noted, however, that the adoption of this scheme would, " among other things, involve the destruction of a number of houses, the closing of Cook Street, West Street, and Kairanga Road, and the removal of the passenger station and goods shed approximately half a mile further from the business portion of the town® than the present location. -

DEFECTS OF FIRST SCHEME. “The first scheme would enable all the necessary facilities to be readily provided, and also allow foil ample provision being made for all probable'future expansion. Its adoption would also eliminate the danger now arising from the numerous level crossings between Longburn and Ten-ace End stations, and particularly those at the Square. On the evidence brought before us it would appear that to provide equal accommodation the first scheme might cost'from £IOO,OOO to £150,000 more than the second, but after an exhaustive examination of the

two schemes .in all their bearings, and having regard to the necessity for making adequate provision for the future, w;e think that the interests of the public generally would ultimately be better served by the adoption of the first scheme. In reply to the second question submitted to us, therefore, we have to report that we. are of opinion that the proposals submitted by the Railway Department are necessary and desirable, and best adapted to enable the business of the Department to be carried on with the greatest degree of safety, efficiency, economy, and convenience. We also wish to express our opinion that it is highly desirable that a decision as to the future location of the railway station at Palmerston North be come to as soon as possible, and that the necessary land be acquired promptly thereafter.

TEMPORARY RELIEF NECESSARY.

“We feel constrained, also, to draw Your Excellency’s attention to that portion of the evidence of the General Manager of Railways wherein he stated that the position in,regard to railway facilities at Palmerston North was so seriou-l that unless it was taken in hand almost immediately the Department, would, in the very near future, bo unable to carry on its business with satisfaction to itself, to the public, or to the Government. From fho evidence given before us, and from our own observations, we have been much impressed by the accuracy of this statement, and we think that if the position forecasted by the General Manager is to be avoided it is essential that some temporary relief be at once afforded at the present

THE DEVIATION QUESTION. “In regard to the third question submitted to us, namely, whether it is desirable and expedient and warranted in and by the public interest that any deviation of the Wellington-New Plymouth railway should be made between Paekakariki and Marlon, and, if so, between what points such deviation should he made, we have to inform Your Excellency that the only such deviation suggested was one from Levin to Marton, via Foxton, Sanson and Bulls. It was, however, admitted by those who represented this matter to us that the work was not one which could be expected to be undertaken in the immediate future, and in this we concur. We are of opinion, therefore, that it is not desirable or expedient or warranted in or by (lie public interest that any deviation of the" Wellington-New Plymouth railway should be made at present between Paekakariki and Marton.”