BETTER RUNNING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20761, 23 June 1937, Page 6

BETTER RUNNING

TRAIN SERVICES OUT OF WELLINGTON MORE LINES FROM ENGINE SHEDS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, June 22. In contrast with the confusion which developed in the railway services operating from the new Wellington station yesterday, to-day’s timetables were run reasonably to schedule. To obviate the chief cause of yesterday’s dislocation, the difficulty of securing engines from the sheds up to time, the Railway Department temporarily Increased the staff. Men of all sections of the service co-operated with enthusiasm to prevent a recurrence of the disruption, and in spite of the handicap of uncompleted yard facilities they were able to handle the traffic with little inconvenience to the travelling public. During the evening suburban rush period a number of trains arrived or departed a few minutes late, but otherwise passengers had little to complain of. At present only one road is available from the engine sheds to the lines giving access to the platforms, and the staff did well to get the locomotives out in the manner they did. The main lines in and out of the station. two down and two up, are not yet in the designed positions and could not have been moved before the Thorndon station closed as one is to go right over the site of the Thorndon platforms. A gang of 200 men is working on this job at present. As soon as possible the remainder of the yard will be laid out as the plans prescribe. The final lay-out provides for four roads from the engine depot to the station. Had these been ready yesterday, the trouble could soon have been overtaken.

"I should like to make it clear,” said the district traffic manager, Mr W. Schierning to-night, “that the reasons ascribed in my statement concerning last night’s delay do not reflect upon the locomotive crews. It is true, as I stated, that the delay originated with an engine that should have been out of the shed earlier than it was, but this was by no means the fault of the locomotive men. This should be made quite clear in case of any misunderstanding by the public. The locomotive staff has worked willingly and extraordinary well to bring about the change-over and deserve every credit for the important part its members have played.” The General-Manager of Railwals, Mr G. H. Mackley, in a statement this morning, said there was no defect in the lay-out of the Wellington station yard, which would not be altered, nor was the delay last evening attributable to a defect in the locomotive which caused the initial trouble. The congestion was due entirely to the fact that in connection with the changeover they were only able to provide in the time at their disposal one road between the locomotive depot and the station. There were 200 men busily engaged now providing the other necessary roads which would give greater frequency of movement.