Bus terminal at railway station?

Press, 8 May 1980, Page 1

Bus terminal at railway station?

Part of the Christchurch Railway Station may be converted into a bus • terminal for New Zealand Railways Road' Services. Road Services has wanted for several years to shift its Victoria Street terminal to sbmewhere in the Moorhouse Avenue area of the station, but Christchurch City councillors said yesterdgy that the Railways Department should first examine the suitability of the present council offices and Civic Theatre site as a terminal for all inter-city buses serving Christchurch. The Manchester Street site is for sale because new civic offices are nearing completion in Tpam Street. '■ “It could have been helpful if we had per-

suaded them to come here,” the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay) told the works and traffic committee yesterday. However, Cr D. C. Close said that it seemed logical to have the bus and train terminals together. “Let us see if we can do some selling,” Mr Hay said. The Railways Department has proposed a conversion of the railway station’s west end, and wants council agreement on the construction of a traffic island in Moorhouse Avenue and a canopy to cover a bus-loading area that could handle eight coachPart of that canopy would' extend over the street, but engineers have

recommended against any canopy that would extend beyond the line of the present station veranda. The Traffic Engineer (Mr M. L. Gadd) said that bus platforms could be arranged so that excellent access could be maintained along the present service road in front of the station. Only minor congestion would occur when buses were loading. He said that satisfactory arrangements should be made for taxis and Christchurch Transport Board buses next to the station’s main entrance. Mr Gadd’s suggested compromise was held over to allow the council to examine the possibility of interesting bus companies in the Manchester Street site.