TUNNEL REMOVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 149, 25 June 1936, Page 5

TUNNEL REMOVAL.

WORK NEAR MERCER. MAIN LINE IMPROVEMENTS. The work of eliminating the tunnel and easing the railway line just south of Mercer is approaching an interesting stage, as the excavation of the rock and sandstone above the tunnel lining has been almost completed. Within the next few weeks the Railway Department will tackle the task of removing the masonry arch of the tunnel and is at present considering the best means of accomplishing this operation. The spoil from the excavation is being used by the Main Highways Board for filling in the approaches to the proposed new Mangatawhiri bridge and the new railway bridge which is to be erected near Pokeno. It has not yet been definitely decided how the tunnel lining will be removed, but it will probably be done with the aid of explosives on a Sunday in the near future. The task could not possibly be carried out on a week day owing to the fact that the line through the tunnel is continually in use. The removal of the tunnel has become necessary in order to enable the train service to be speeded up in the vicinity of Mercer. At present the restriction on speeds is 30 miles an hour, owing to the sharpness of the curves, but with the elimination of the tunnel and the easing of the curves trains will be able to speed up to 45 miles an hour. While the work is in progress provision is being made for a double track to provide for possible developments of the future. At present the double track extends only as far south as Papakura.