COBDEN TRAIN STOP

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 6

COBDEN TRAIN STOP

MINERS SUCCEED IN APPEAL TO MINISTER PLATFORM FOR PASSENGERS Preparations are being riiade by the Railway Department, Greymouth, for the construction of a platform at the Cobden end of the railway bridge spanning the Grey river, but at present certain details regarding construction are being considered by the Wellington head office and Mines Department officials. Material to enable an early start to be made once a final decision has been reached, has already been transported to the site.

The construction of the platform is a necessary prelude to picking up and setting down of miner passengers for and from the Runanga district, on the Cobden side of the river, thus eliminating the necessity for the miners having to walk across the bridge to Greymouth each morning and back at night. Previous requests by the Miners Union to the Railway Department, seeking permission for the daily trains to stop at the Cobden end of the bridge to set down Cobden minerresidents. had been declined on the grounds that the practice was dangerous on account of the nearness of the drop to the river below and the lack of room, and also because other passengers were also likely to take advantage of the concession with consequent danger. The union, however, made a direct request to the Minister of Railways, Mr. Semple, and, as a result, he has now approved of the plan and directed that a platform be constructed. This concession will affect a large number of men, for many of the Liverpool mine workers reside m Cobden. _____