DOUBLE LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 253, 24 October 1936, Page 7

DOUBLE LINE.

BIG RAILWAY WORK.

PAPAKURA TO HOROTIU. I -| IMMEDIATE START PLANNED. The Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, has announced that, subject to certain Departmental considerations, the work of duplicating the Main Trunk railway between Papakura and Horotiu will be commenced within the | next fortnight. When the work is completed there will be a double track for the full distance between Auckland and Frankton, and railway troubles caused by traffic congestion will be solved. The actual work of duplication will extend over 50 miles, and the proposal is to commence operations at both ends, Papakura and Horotiu. A large number of men will be employed. The old line formation will be used where the advantage favours it. Between Drurv and Paerata there is the old line which was abandoned some years ago In favour of a grade easement. Tills Is on a down grade running to Auckland, and will mean a saving of construction work. As various lengths are finished they will be handed over to the Railways Department. For some time past the traffic officers have been urging the duplication as trains are often held up for crossing. They consider that the proposed link line between Pokeno and Paeroa would not to a great extent improve the present position, and, although it might ease the main l'ne a little, duplication of the main trunk i 3 still a necessity. The district railways engineer, Mr. .T. W. Beasley, is at present in Wellington making the final arrangements for | the work to start. Auckland Comment. The secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Dr. E. P. Neale, said i this morning that if New Zealand's population continued to increase the complete duplication of the present track from Auckland to Frankton had to come. He expressed doubt, however, whether it would not have been better to duplicate the line between Papakura and Pokeno only, and, instead of duplicating from Pokeno to Horotiu, to con- | struct the Pokeno-Paeroa line, which would cut off 45 miles of the present running between Auckland and Paeroa, and also shorten the present distance from Auckland to Te Arolia. If that were done much of the present congestion between Pokeno and Frankton, he said, would be relieved. Dr. Xeale said that as far as public ; statements indicated, no investigation of the twoj projects as alternative propositions seemed to have been made. The view that he had expressed, he added, was his own personal opinion ' and could not be regarded as committing | any organisations he was connected | with.