Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-08
UNION STATION PROVES
BIC SAVING FOR PUBLIC
Scvcnty-Fivc Days Laid BY Every
Twcnty-Four Hours. Says
Federal Director.
AFFORDS GREAT CONVENIENCE
Passengers Arc More Safe, Baggage
and Express Is Handled Quicker,
While Sanitation and Comforts Are
Above the Ordinary.

Seven;yfive days every day are
saved to the travelling public by the
new Broad Street station. according
10 Federal Manager William D. Duke
of the Richmond. Fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad, who has just com
pleted the compilation of figures prov
ing this assertion
In addition TO this saving, Mr. Duke
points out, the new station affords to
travellers greater convenience. greater
safety, more comfort. less danger and
less worry through it's better facili-
Ties for handling crowds, baggage and
express and through the loop system
OF handling the forty seven trains that
move through the station every TWEEN
ty-four hours.
AS Il basis for his estimate on time
saved, Mr. Duke figured that trains
moving through the station carried
5000 passengers every day. Compared
with the time taken to handle passen-
gers ~ the old Byrd stree, and Elba
stations, eigheen minute was saved
on each making a total of approx
mate!y seventy-hv days saved every
twcnty-four hours.
NEW STATION PLACES
DANGER At MINIMUM
one Of the most Important of the
other good features pointed out is
that Of safety, Mr.. Duke thinks. Under
the system employed AT the Byrd Street
station before all trains OF the Rich
mond, Fredericksbu and Potomac.
the Atlantic Coast Line and the Nor
ioIk ana Western roads were routed
through. the new station, passengers
We're. compelled to cross several sur
race tracks IN coming TO or from
'ht!F trains. Although there were few
accidents. there was always. present
'he rear that some train would back
mo croWdinS passengers.
NOW every train enters far below
me street level ana is thanked by
platforms that can be reached only
.! way OF ramps, on inclincs, that
through which passengers now NOV" i'm
safety above the trains. PASSENGERS
never louch the tracks at all!
BAGGAGE AND EMPRESS
HANDLED MuCH QUICKER
me l"cility with which baggage and
express are handled is also a great
IMPROVEMENT over the old method For
merry trains backed or came head
nfSt mo the old station. according
10 thc direction In which they Were.
found Then baggage and express fire.
IucntlN was dumped along the run
NAYS through which passcngcSr. w.r,.
Obliged TO pass Conccstio confusion
ana danger WAS the result.
Al the new station, because the ;oon
system permits al trains 10 head i'm
tht same Way, q certain spo: IS d.sig-
nat-d Tor baggage and express rms
spot is beyond the ramps used by pas-
achScF. - reaching the street or
trt!hs. bagSag" and express are
never in their way.
a. me old station travellers were
10 h,
iorts OF uncieanliness, confusion and
CONGESTION. T" reach trains they we're
I0inpeiied to stand in the open air.
"iIen ~ the coolest weather, while
one sai"lnan examined tickets When
Trans were late, they sat ia an un-
SANITARY waiting room heated only 10y
an open fireplace.
jI:LiENEs NEW STATION
tITh's GREATEST ASSET
Passengers passing through the new
station are afforded every comfort i'm
iA.Ge wcH-l!ghtcd, perfectly venti-
lated. clcanly waiting rooms and cor
ridors, which they never leave min
the train arrives.
Nj Duke believes the new station is
one OF hichmonda greatest asset
sion Of the city To every stranrrI
who comes here The fact .hat il is
hound to enhance property values IL
be a big consideration.
Answering the contention tina, ;p,
station IS Tess easily accessible IRON
The contra! part Of the city ihan was
the old. Mr.. Duke points out thar
while the distance may be som,
greater, transportation facilities NOR,
IMAM epna'ize the convenience. Evcry
car that goes through West Broad a.
Tar as Robinson Street stops dir.ctl,
In 'front.' OF the ncw station, wherca,
20 reach Byrd street station passeu.
gers had TO depend on one cross-towi
line.
The new station. according 10 Mr.
DUKE COST much more Than is gen
orally believed. at has been c.llcd
million dollar-stat!on." he said hui
as matter OF fact. the structure viii
It's adjuncts and au1iliaries costs con
siderably 1norc than $3.000,0O0" Tha
the future Will fully justify this cos
Is the firm belief OF the Federal man
apg1 "