CANTERBURY RAILWAYS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 180, 4 September 1914, Page 10

CANTERBURY RAILWAYS

CHRISTCHURCH NEEDS NEW STATION. MR HILEY'S OPINIONS. [Prom our own. Parliamentary Reporter.] • WELLINGTON, September 4. In his first report on the 'New Zealand railways, the General Manager, Mr E. H. Hiley, discusses the allocation of the proposed railway' loan s of £3,250,000. Mr Hiley points out that the question of building new stations at Auckland- Wellington, and Christcliurch is very urgent and serious., In these cities the accommodation for both passengers and 1 goods traffic is even now below requirements- at busy seasons, and therefore it is evident that no time should be lost in undertaking the new works, having regard to the fact that they cannot be completed in much less than five years from the commencement of operations. Mr considers that £685,00t) should be allotted for railway improvements in Canterbury, divided as follows:—New station and yards at Lyttelton £IOO,OOO, new station and yards at Christchurch £320,000, Addington £IOO,OOO, Tiinaru £40,000, duplication of Lyttelton tunnel £125,000. LYTTELTON TUNNEL. Regarding the Canterbury improvements, Mr Hiley writes, in his report:— '/In studying the conditions at Lyttelton and Christchurch I have ./given careful consideration to the proposal to electrify the line. The advocates of the electrification of the LytteltonChristchurch line have an exaggerated idea as to the benefits to be derived from the substitution of electrical haulage for sjteam between these two points, especially these out-and-out enthusiasts who press for electrification in preference to duplication. The substitution of electricity for steam haulage over the single line would merely cure tiie smoke nuisance. The congestion and delay to traffic caused by the disabilities of the single line would remain uncurcd. "It is obvious that what is immediately required is an up track and a dowil track to facilitate the means of traffic working between Christchurch and its water-gate. The present single line ean'ot cope with the business when shipping is brisk. It remains to be seen to what extent there will be any annoyance from smoke when the double tunnel is completed. It is difficult to 'imagine it will be a serious matter, bearing in mind that the tunnel is not on a steep gradient, and that, if necessary,, a fan can be erected to keep the tunnel clear of an excessive quantity of smoke. "I have had practical experience of the substitution of electricity for stearic or. a working railway, and am v an advocate of electrification under suitable circumstances. Electrification is most desirable in the case of railways serving densely populated suburban areas, where stations are numerous audi close together, and where practically a continuous passenger service is required. CHRISTCHURCH REQUIREMENTS. "The rapid acceleration of "electrical multiple unit passenger trains enables a quicker and more frequent service to be given, but the circumstances of Christoliurch do not warrant the ex-, penditure. The passenger business can easily be dealt with under steam haulage. * The line is not densely populated, and the goods traffic can be as well, if not better, handled by steam. The double line is necessary between Lyttelton and Christchurch, but electrification under the circumstances would be an extravagance. "The facilities for dealing with the Christchurch and Lyttelton business have been short of requirements for some years. The work can only be carried on with difficulty, and at excessive cost. A new station and marshalling yard is required at Christchurch, a double line througli the tunnel, and a now yard at Lyttelton. The interworking between the two places is so intimate that it is necessary to regard the requirement as a whole.

LIMITED ROOM. ' 1 The available room for the station and yard in Christc-liurch is limited, the surrounding property having been .built over. The station is penned in on the north by Moorliouse Avenue, and on the south by Carlyle and Mowbray streets, whilst numerous crossing streets restrict the length of the station east and west. At the present time inconvenience and delay are caused to trams, vehicles, and pedestrians owing to shunting over Colombo street. This cannot be avoided while the station and yard, which abut on the streets, have to be shunted from the west end in order to reduce the inconvenience to a minimum. The fe.-ar-rangement includes shifting the station away from Colombo street, and back to its original site, with the main entrance off Madras Street. The goods yard has been laid so as to remove the shuuting oft' Colombo street. By this means the obstruction of this street will be reduced to trains entering and leaving the station. The space available is only sufficient to provide for the passenger and goods stations, and in consequence another site lias had to be found for the necessary yard for sorting and holding Christchurcli traffic. It is proposed to place this yard 011 vacant land between Addington and Middleton. The scheme has the advantage of economy, whilst in addition relieving Christchurch streets of a considerable amount of obstruction during the shunting operations. The cost of the Christchurch station is £.'120,000, and it will take five years to complete. The cost of the Addington marshalling yard is £IOO,OOO, and it will take three years to complete. AN URGENT NECESSITY.

<' A double line through • Lyttelton tunnel is urgently required, the existing track being entirely inadequate as a means of commuuieatiou between Ohristehurch and its port. Smoke in

i a single track tunnel one mile and a half long is at times most objectionable. The tunnel can be. widened io permit of a second track without impeding traffic during the operation. The work will cost and will take four years to complete. It should b? put in hand as soon as possible. LYTTELTON YARD AND FERRY STATION. ~ //The Lyttelton yard and ferry station cannot cope with the volume of business hoav passing through the port. It is short of siding room, but above all it is badly planned. It is impossible to shunt any two adjacent wharves at the same time, through lack of independent shunting nec-ks. The plan proposed gives the necessary accommodation in addition to room for expansion, and will allow of the necessary number of engines working without interfering with one another. The plan further provides for an up-to-date passenger station, for the ferry steamers on the Gladstone Pier. This is the only place in Lyttelton Harbour where a station can be placed alongside the ships. Thie plan lias the approval of the - Harbour Board. The cost of the work will be £IOO,OOO, and it will take four years to complete.Ashburton station requires remodelling, -anif the cost can be taken out of additions to open lines."