STRATFORD RAIL TRAFFIC

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1932, Page 7

STRATFORD RAIL TRAFFIC

SHUNTING BLOCKS SWETS

STATION ALTERATION DISCUSSED.

NO WISH TO MAKE FALSE MOVE.

“AGQUIESGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES.”

To ascertain th© views pf the Stratford Borough Council on th© proposed alterations t© the Stratferd railway station, th© president of the Chamber of Commere© (Mr, J, B. Rjehards) waited on the council at its meeting last night.

Not very much good would ©©me of apposing the proposals, Mr. JUehards said, but they' were greatly different from those which at one time it was thought would b© followed. The installation of a triangle junction With the main Up© ©nd it? consequent compiicaed shunting was hardly fur th© best. The laying of another track across Fenton Street would increase the inconvenience already caused to traffic by the shunting, but th© leading bank would be shifted northward; that would ease the load on Fenton Street a litle. The double line across Regan Street would be extended toward Seytpn Street. There was every indication that shunting across Fenton and Regan Streets would increase in volume, The chamber, Mr, Bichards said, was not anvious to act alpp© and would welcome an ©xpressipn af feeling from the council. v , The Mayor (My. P. Thomson) said the late Mr. P, G- Rpussell (general, manager of railways) assured him that the alterations made to th© yard and lines would lessen the hold-UP at th© crossings. The Mayor offered ft portion of the unused width of Juliet Street t© increase the size of the yard but the department wanted length, npt breadth, for Shunning. “We do not want to do anything that will give the department th© idea that we do not want arrangement? to be made for the traffic to be handled here,” Mr. Thomson said. - Cr. A. A. Trpter pointed out that big train? were being handled from the ©ast already without any apparent inin the hold at the crossings. He anticipated more danger from the shnntipg and backing that would be done in the southern' area tp Warwick Rpad. ' “it .would be very dangerous for the council to make any m° ve a t present, Cr. A. J. Davey, thought. f - “We have beep on tender ground for some time and now we have the line completed I think w© should keep quiet” _ . Cr. C. A. Finnerty thought it would be a’ little impertinent to make suggestions to the engineers of the Railway Department, Asking if the plans for the alterations were finalised, Cr. R, F. Harkness said he failed t° see there would be much more traffic across the crossings than at present, H© thought the chamber could well watch the interests of the borough. Mr. Richards said he did not want a motion passed but wanted to give the knowledge h© had tp th© council so that the full responsibility of any action the chamber might take would not rest entirely with the cahmber. There would come a time vzhen Stratford might want to press. the department to make good its promise to improve conditions generally and in that case he did not want the. department to say that Stratford agreed to what was being done at present. ' If no opposition were offered, .he wanted it understood that Stratford acguieseed under, stress of circumstances. ' The Mayor thought Mr. .Richards had the feeling -of the council with him in his views. ■ Naturally as time passed and both the rail and road traffic increased an improvement gn the present arrangement with the station in the centre ©f the town would be desired.