RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 21 June 1920, Page 4

RAILWAY DEVIATION.

AT PALMERSTON NORTH. IMPORTANT CHANGES PROPOSED. Details of the proposed railway deviation at* l.’almcrs-tou North were discussed at a nicotine,* of the Paimerstou North .Borough Council on Tuesday uight last. A lettt r stas received from the General Manager -..Mr Mc-Villy) stating that the existing accommodation js quite inadequate to meet -“otisfactorly the requirements of the present traffic and business now being carried on at very etea r inconvenience read under many disadvantages to the public and the Department alike. Owing to the restricted area of tin* yard and its situation in the heart: of the town, it was impracticable to cany out improvement u and provide the accommodation essentially necessary in meet the requirements o* prospective trutile in the near future, and the manager stated that he was firmly convinced that the only satisfactory solution of the difficulty was the deviation of the railway lino near Longhorn .function to West Boundary road, and the construction of a now and up-to-date station on u site approximately between Kniranga and Laugh ikei roads. This would do away with ai! level cros.-iug.-. as the scheme provided for over-bridges for road traflie on the main arterial roads leading into Palmerston. The removal of ;f s present running lines between Longburn ami Terrace End would enable the main thoroughfare to be widened and give residents on the west side of the Pain er-ton-Longburn road direct acces* to the main road. dir Mc\ illy stated that during the last h'j years the passenger busiiiess at Palmerston North had increased 3ti-> per cent., outward live stock business if o per cent, timber traffic 4'.«> per cent, other goods _ .•<) per cent, revenue Oiio per cent. Also there were large increases in inward business duriny the same period. During the last five years outward traffic increased by u-.v per cent. The cumber of railway vehicles handled at Palmerston daily v.-as between 100* 1 and Am. exclusive of through trains. The Council unanimously decided to support the proposal to remove the railway station to the northern part or the town; such proposal to include an up-to-date station and yards - , also a g a y station in the vicinity of Vogel street and bridge's over level crossings. The proposed new station will be approxi- : mutely a mile ami a-quarter from the i Square. j In ilic i:i Sit tor mo oaiutou ■ was generally expressed that the pro- > posed change worm; be tire best tiring i that could happen to Palmerston North. - and was a most statesmanlike proposal, i It is understood that the deviation ! will reduce the railway line- by* three- 1 quarters of a mile.