Junction Station to be 'unattended'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 29, 15 December 1987, Page 1

Junction Station to be 'unattended'

From 15 January 1988 Ohakune Junction Railway Station is to become, in NZR jargon, an 'unattended station*. Brenda Marriott, who has looked after the ticket office since November 1986, has accepted a severance package offered to her as an alternative to a transfer. Shunter Wayne Ripikoi has accepted a transfer to Taumarunui and will be taking up that position early in the new year. Brenda Marriott said she could understand why NZR had made their decision. She said that passenger bookings have been very light through the office in summer. In winter it had been much busier said Mrs Marriott, and probably would be again next year. "Now that the post office has closed there's nothing up here in summer" said Mrs Marriott. She sees no problem for passengers in the future if the proposal to hand over ticketing to Hammond's book store goes ahead. Negotiations are underway

between Hammonds and NZR for the Ohakune book store to take on the agency. Hammonds Books, Toys and Stationery in Goldfinch Street, Ohakune already handle NZR road services bookings as well as Speedlink parcels, the Railways' freight service. Passenger services manager for this area, Mr Paul Tessier said while there is always the possibility that passenger trains would cease to make stops at Ohakune this was unlikely. "With all the traffic in the winter to Ohakune we would be foolish to allow the service to stop" said Mr Tessier. Freight services manager Jim Wilson said it was unfortunate for Railfreight users that there would be no freight loading facilities at Ohakune. "But we can't justify keeping the staff and facilities to run the freight facilities that are being used now", said Mr Wilson. He said Railfreight would continue to accept full wagons from Ohakune, but users 'would have to load their own wagons. Most

freight users in Ohakune were vegetable growers, said Mr Wilson. "Freight from Ohakune has dropped off since road transport deregulation" said Mr Wilson. "We really haven't been supported in this area." He said Railfreight and freight users were yet to get around the table and sort out some new arrangements. When asked about the proposed 'Railway Village' which is planned for the shunting yards, Mr Wilson said Railways had no intention to "rip up the freight facilities". He said one railway siding can handle about eight wagons, which would be about 100 tonnes per day. At present the Ohakune yards would be lucky to handle five tonnes per day. He said much of the freight handling equipment had been here up until now to service the electrification project. NZR has served Ohakune since 1907 almost two years before the Main Trunk Line was officially completed and handed over.