WIDER PLATFORM IS SUGGESTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18991, 10 February 1930, Page 10

WIDER PLATFORM IS SUGGESTED.

SCHEME TO RELIEVE CONGESTION AT STATION.

As a temporary expedient for the purpose of relieving the congestion that occurs at rush times on the Christchurch railway station platform, a suggestion has been made that it should be increased in width by taking in the space occupied by the first set of rails.

The suggestion has been before the Railway Department for some time past, but no action has yet been taken in the matter. The present width of the station platform is approximately 20ft, but if the suggestion to take in the space occupied by the first set of rails were carried out, it would have a width of 31ft, which would be more than ample for requirements. One of the reasons why the matter has not been the subject of any action by the Railway Department is that the question of building a new station is not yet settled. Before the war it was proposed that a new station be erected in Christchurch, and the question was revived when a definite recommendation to this effect was made by Mr Coates in his report on railway improvements Which he brought down shortly after he assumed the portfolio of Railways some years ago. Since then work has been commenced on the new Auckland railway station, which is now approaching completion, and the final plans have been adopted for the new Wellington railway station, but no action whatever has been taken in regard to a new railway station for Christchurch. Meanwhile passengers using the Christchurch station are subjected to very considerable inconvenience and discomfort on account of the congestion that occurs on the platform at busy times, and unless some temporary measures -are adopted it is likely that this state of affairs will be continued for several more years. Under these circumstances the suggestion that the platform be widened is being put forward as offering a good escape from a continuance of the congestion until such time as the new station is built.

As far as can be ascertained there are no difficulties in the way of giving effect to the suggestion. At present there are six tracks between the main platform and the arrival platform. Four of these are used for the storage of passenger cars, and it Is considered by railway officials that the efficiency of the station would not be impaired if there were one track less. It would not be possible to widen the main platform for the whole of its length of 1400 ft, but it could be widened by an additional lift over a length of about 700 ft, which would include the whole of the portion immediately in front of the buildings. If this work were carried out the erection of a new verandah over practically the whole length of the platform would be necessitated, and it*would be the most costly item of expenditure. People who visit the station frequently, however, are very definitely of opinion that the verandah needs replacing, on account of there being far too many poles at present. By erecting a new verandah according to modern ideas of construction the number of supporting poles could be reduced by more than one-half, and much freer movement would be possible on the platform. Another suggestion for relieving the congestion on the platform is that passengers joining or leaving the Lyttelton trains should be encouraged to use the east end of the station only. Under the present arrangement Lyttelton passengers add to the congestion because they enter and leave the station near the bookstall, instead of by the left luggage office.