Call for action on derelict station

It has been slammed as a "disgrace", compared with "disused horse stables" and labelled Palmerston North's "doorway of shame", but does anyone actually care about our railway station?

Since a taskforce led by Mayor Jono Naylor attempted to spruce up the eyesore in 2007, the station has reverted to its former state of neglect.

And with the fate of the Capital Connection service between Palmerston North and Wellington hanging in the balance, the future of the once-bustling building has been left unclear.

Yesterday, rubbish blew through a greying courtyard framed by boarded-up windows, broken glass screens, rusted metalwork and peeling paint. Disused trolleys clanked in the wind, while spiderwebs clung to dirty awnings.

Government-owned KiwiRail owns the station, after buying it from Toll Rail in July 2008. No work has been done to clean it up since the takeover.

KiwiRail was asked yesterday if it planned to clean up the station – a question it was also asked in 2008, but failed to answer. A spokesman had not responded by deadline.

Destination Manawatu chief executive Lance Bickford said the "derelict" station was a concern.

"What would be fantastic would be to see the electrification process come up to Palmerston North from Wellington ... that's an absolute no-brainer," he said.

"My question remains, are we going to have trains stopping there in the future? If the Capital Connection is lost, then you don't need a station at all."

The current station was a dent in the pride of Palmerston North residents, and he would like to see a taskforce group started up to lobby for rail services and spruce up the station.

Mr Naylor could not be reached for comment.

The Capital Connection service came under threat when KiwiRail announced it was extending its electric Wellington metro line to Waikanae.

It was thought this would lead to a drop in passengers using the only commuter link between Palmerston North and the capital, rendering it financially unviable.

KiwiRail has said it would make a decision about the Capital Connection six months after the extended metro services began operating, which could be as early as January.

About 185,472 passengers used the Capital Connection in the 12 months to June 2009.

- © Fairfax NZ News