THE NEW STATION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 150, 21 December 1929, Page 11

THE NEW STATION

1 PREPARING PLANS

WORK OF WELLINGTONIANS

LAY-OUT DIFFICULTIES

Tho layout and architectural features of Wellington's new railway station are very fully described in the current number of tho "New Zealand Railways Magazine by Mr. W. B. Davidson, assistant chief engineer. A point of special interest is that both - engineers' and architect responsible for tho work are representatives of old Wellington families. The new-station will therefore be the work of Wellington's own sons. Mr. F. C. Widdop, Chief Engineer of Kail ways, and Mr. W. E. Davidson are the two engineers concerned, the architect being Mr. W. Gray Young. After discussing Wellington's configuratioj*- and the genesis of the Thorndon reclamation, Mr. Davidson points out that the new station plans are the outcome of a long and patient study of the railway transport conditions obtaining in Wellington. Past statistics have been searched and tabulated with a view to forecasting future requirements, but even then the seer is needed as much as tho statistician. Transportation is so much in a state of flux that the imagination must be brought into' play in making provision on broad lines for future possibilities that aro outside the range of present figures.;

It is well, at this point, he says, to remember that the railway terminal in Wellington has a function quite apart from servico to the city. It handles great quantities of produce and merchandise direct between the country districts of the North Island and overseas, and inter-island shipping, necessitating the very closest contact with the wharves.

Planning for this has been comparatively easy. In the development of its other function, service to the local community, the weaving of the railway transportation system into the city transportation system, and thereby into the life of the city, has been a much more difficult problem. It would do much to disarm hasty criticism if it could be known how many channels were patiently explored, how many interests studied, how many opinions obtained, how many parallels sought before final decisions were arrived at, and what were the limitations imposed upon the designer by the awkward boundaries of the site.

The maze of railway tracks which will eventually cover the Thorndon Reclamation has probably little interest for the general public. Here, however, lies the real heart of the matter. This apparent maze is an intricate organ of transportation which will deliver the very life blood of commerce. Day in, and day out, must the wheels be kept moving between East Coast and West Coast, country and city, ship's side and far country station, producer and consumer, and in so far as this' mighty machine functions properly, will the -needs of commerce be met. The planning of it all is a fascinating task. :The passenger station itself must necessarily be the chief point of interest for the man in the street, for here he makes personal contact with organised, transportation,, and. in just so far as.= his comfort-and convenience are met does he-approve." . y.^fW ?ASSENGER -TERSirN'AL. '': The site of the station building was the first, consideration. -The position was influenced, by the necessity for keeping all passenger platforms and the trackwork serving, them, to the south of Davis street. This brought the building into-a-position which fitted in with some other important considerations. There was room here, between leatherston'street and.Waterloo quay to develop an adequate layout fronting towards Bunny street and at such distance' from that street as to provide a oroad plaza for the circulation of city traflic making contact with the station —trams,, buses, mo tors, and pedestrians. The station building -will present a perfectly" symmetrical front to this plaza, with a central doorway givino entrance to the main booking hall. " As Featherston street is essentially a passenger thoroughfare, the passenger facilities and amenities were developed on that side of the building. In the same way luggage, parcels, and mail facilities were developed on Waterloo quay, which is essentially a commercial thoroughfare giving access to all the wharves and warehouse blocks. The central feature of the station, layout is the large concourse which provides an internal circulating area, and •which has direct access to Featherston street. A subsidiary concourse also with access to this street will dear with the suburban passengers, so that they ■will not hamper the movements of long distance travellers within the station. _ The arrival platforms will be served by a Wide carriage road from Waterloo quay. Passengers will be able to step direct from train to motor-car, and so reach' the city with the briefest dolay possible.

A largo mailrooni with rail access is proviaea for aealing with bulk mails. The new station offers to the traveller all the amenities of a ..first-class hotel,-except sleeping accommodation, several be<ls will be proviaea in conjunction ..with the women's rest room for. those overcome by tho stress of travelling, particularly those coming off the South Islana ferry after a-rouWi night and wishing to proceed by train. .The new station block, will make close contact with the inter-island ferry wharf, ana if-is . expected that, in the future, when inter-island and intercolonial traffic further develop, additional facilities in this direction will be provided. FIXING APPROACHES. The site of the station having been definitely settled, it now remains to" finalise the arrangement of street and traffic approaches; in other words, tho welding of railway transportation to city transportation. This has been fraught with' many difficulties, but a solution appears to offer itself in "the tentative layout under consideration. This provides for a. general circulation of traffic in the wide plaza in front of the station, the main feature being a double-balloon loop for the reversal of tram movements. Within the tramway loop a baa depot is suggested. A clear thoroughfare for through traffic is provided. ■ Pedestrian movements between trams and station will be made without interference from vehicles of any kind. It is also proposed to eliminate trams from Featherston street. These are matters for the civic authorities to decide. It is unfortunate that Peatherston street, one of the principal arterial roadways, should pass the station, but 3his is offset by the fact that Lambton quay will carry a very large proportion of the northern road' traffic entirely clear of the station.

The building will rise to a height of five stories, in order to accommodate all railway staffs in Wellington, including the chief executive offices, the result being a very .impressive structure. Its site is. not without aesthetic features. The main facade of the building, with its pillared entrance, will show to great advantage across the wide plaza, particularly to those approaching from the wharves and from Stout street. From the plaza itself will

bo obtained "a view of the Government Buildings/ destined in the future to be a monumental structure. Up the wide vista of Bunny street will be seen tho Houses of Parliament, with trees, green lawns, and gay flower beds surrounding them.

If ii tho future it be decided to remove the Government Priting Office and remodel the Hotel Cecil block, then tho stage is set for a splendid entrance to tho capital city. The Fcatherston street facade of the railway station will certainly bo an outstanding part of that sotting.