BIG IMPROVEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 104, 27 January 1930, Page 10

BIG IMPROVEMENTS

PALMERSTON RAILWAY YARDS Dominion Special Service. \ Palmerston North, January 25. Commencing early next week, extensive alterations are to be made to the yards at the Palmerston North railway station, in accordance with Sir Joseph Ward’s promise in April of last year, when work 'on the deviation was abandoned. The Prime Minister then said: “With the failure of the traffic to increase as was anticipated and with a suitable arrangement of the work of trains, the situation has completely altered, and to such ap extent that the general manager and his officers have reported that they are quite satisfied that the expenditure of about £33,000 in the present Palmerston North railway yards will afford all the facilities necessary to enable the business at_ Palmerston North to be carried out wit'll reasonable convenience on the present site for some years to come.” A number of the existing shunting lines in the yards are to be torn up and relaid in more convenient positions, entailing the laying of eleven new sets of points. The roadway between Cook Street and the goods shed is to be closed, and three new storing sidings and a new loading siding will be laid in this area. The locomotive yards are to be considerably enlarged, and new tracks laid, while the present engine shed is to be replaced by a modern structure. A step which it is anticipated will relieve some of the congestion in the locomotive yards and be more convenient to stock drovers will be the removal of the stock yards to the corner of West and Church Streets. They will also be enlarged considerably. 'l'lie north and south dock sidings for the handling of local (rains are to be extended, the northern 2J chains towards the Square ami the south three chains towards Church Street. Q'he work will occupy several months, ■Hid will be carried out so as not to interfere with the normal running of trains. A small gang of 14 men will be employed.