The winter is a slack period in most enterprises, but this is not the case in the new railway yard, where provision is being made to have this huge network of lines and sidings ready for the opening of the new railway station in April, 1937. There is usually a falling-off in both goods and passenger traffic during the non-productive period of the year, and advantage is being taken of this to make alterations in the layout from old to new which would prove more embarrassing to the working of the unfinished yard during the busier summer months. By the courtesy of Mr. G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways, a Wellington “Post” representative was given an opportunity to view all the work in progress, the following account being taken from a recent issue of that paper:

“The reconstruction of the yard which will serve the new railway station and freight traffic needs of this important terminus is being proceeded with as rapidly as the circumstances permit. Many of the new shunting and car sidings and connections are permanent as far as they can be laid, but until all the old yard has been lifted there are limits to the possible extensions of the new work done. Nevertheless there is much to interest the prospective passenger and the commercial man in the present position, as it shows what will eventually form the goods and passenger yards.

“Not the least attractive of the new arrangements are those being made for the convenience of passengers. At the back of the station will be a large concourse, roofed by an arch springing from buttresses on the main building. This will serve as a well-lit sheltered promenade for those awaiting trains or friends. Beyond this concourse there will be a roofed luggage-trucking platform where luggage may be taken to any of the new platforms without impeding the movement of passengers. On the Waterloo Quay side of the station there will be a deep covered traffic bay where motor vehicles may back in to the luggage platform. A number of old buildings remain to be demolished along the Waterloo Quay side of the railway property, between Waterloo Quay and the most eastern platform. This piece of ground will be retained as a wide sealed roadway, and somewhere here will be the taxi stand, within easy reach of the passenger platforms.

“The close proximity of the Ferry Wharf and its ready accessibility from the new station will be a pleasant change to inter-island passengers. In the case of Wellington, there are no departures of ferry steamers and important trains within a few minutes of each other, as happens at Lyttelton, and there is no need for a railway line to the wharf.