FIRST TRAINS LEAVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20723, 17 November 1930, Page 10

FIRST TRAINS LEAVE.

EFFICIENT ORGANISATION. I GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST. CROWDS VISIT STATION. Predictions that the new railway station would prove one of the show places of the city were fulfilled last evening when a crowd which must h.ivo run into thousands visited the palatial building for its unofficial opening. From five o'clock, when the doors were opened, until well after tho departure of the two expresses for Wellington, the lobby, concourse and platforms, brightly lit and traversed by a curious throng, provided an animated scene.

The facilities for passengers, both arriving and departing, are exceptional, as was proved by tho efficiont manner in which the two expresses for Wellington were despatched last evening. Tho honour of being the first train to use the new station fell to the 6.35 p.m. train for Hamilton, which left from one of the southern platforms promptly to time. Tho morning trains—the express from Wellington and trains to and from Hamilton—used the old station. Departure of Limited. The departure of the limited express for Wellington—lo minutes earlier than usual to allow for stops at Te Awamutu, Te Kuiti and Paekakariki—provided the first real test of the efficiency of the organisation at the new station. The train commenced to steam out from the main departure platform on the stroko of seven. Some time before the departure of the express a woman passenger, standing on tho platform, was slightly injured when tho wheel' of a luggage barrow passed over her foot. She was given first-aid treatment in the ladies' waiting room and was then carried on to the platform by two porters. However, just as they reached her carriage the train commenced to move. It seemed as if the accident would cause the woman to miss the train, but the signal at the far end of the platform was quickly changed aud the train stopped. Tho porters carried her to her seat and the limited left tho station after a delay of about a minute. Tho second express for Wellington was despatched at 7.40 without incident and at 9.39 the Sunday train from Hamilton arrived—the first to dischargo its passengers at tho new station. Thoy experienc6d no difficulty in making their way to the taxi area or through concourso and lobby to the tramway loop. Issue of Platform Passes. Seldom has such interest been displayed in the departure of tho expresses for Wellington. It seemed that every passenger was accompanied to the station by his entire family aijd most of his friends. The platform was thronged, many people who were not farewelling relatives or friends taking advantage of a certain amount of departmental latitude concerning the necessity for passes for entry to tho platform. The use of platform passes, which was inaugurated at the old station some years ago, will be continued at the new station, but regulations regarding the number to be sold every evening have yet to be finalised. It is anticipated that the extra space available on the platform will enable the issue of a larger number of passes. Apart from the general lay-out of the station and platforms to provide for the efficient handling of crowds and control of traffic by railway officials, special interest was displayed by the crowa last evening in the many facilities that have been provided for the travelling public. The barber's shop, with its fittings of polished metal and gleaming porcelain and its attendant bath and shower rooms; the. restaurant and tea-room; the ladies' and general waiting-room# each had its ever-changing crowd of enthusiastic admirers. And the spectacle of people gtizing up at the magnificent ceiling of the entrance lobby suggested that as a show place the new station will be considerably more than a nine days' wonder. ' Post Office in Concourse. Another point of interest was the post and telegraph official in the concourse. This will be in use for the first time this morning. Separate postal boxes are provided for ordinary and late-fee mails, and these were in use last evening. Tho tram service between the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets and- the new station was inaugurated yesterday afternoon, when the traffic was fairly consistent. To-day, to provide for the greater passenger traffic to and from the station, cars running on the Ponsonby route will have the station as their terminus, instead of the foot of Queen Street. This service will be maintained on all week days.