LATE AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 194, 18 August 1939, Page 8

LATE AGAIN.

TRAINS DELAYED.

MAIN TRUNK LINE.

FURTHER SLIPS REPORTED

SOUTHERN EXPRESS' PLIGHT.

Owing to continued bad weather in the Taihape and southern districts of the Main Trunk line further serious disorganisation in rail traffic has occurred. It was reported this morning that another large slip, about half a mile long, had occurred in high country on the main line near Mataroa, six miles north of Taihape. Bad weather still prevails in the district to-day and further slips have occurred.

Ihe Mataroa slip, 'which occurred ml>oiit five-thirty this morning, did not hold up the North-lliound expresses, as it occurred after they had. passed. Both the Auckland J boimd expresses were considerably delayed by the serious disorganisation caused by the slips. The Limited express was running some three hiyirs late, beoig delayed for a longer period than the early express, which arrived in Auckland two hours 'l>ehind schedule. It is stated that there is a possibility of to-day's Wellington-Auck-land expresses being diverted through Taranaki.

It iK unlikely that the slip will he cleared to-day. A work train with a large gang of men was dispatched to the scene of the blockage early this morning, and the men are working in heavy vain. A'bout !)()(( yards of spoil have fallen, and the workmen are faced with a herculean task.

The Limited express crawled through the section of the line where the slip subsequently occurred. On arrival at Taihape the passengers heard of the slip and considered themselves fortunate to get through. A 'passenger service has 'been inaugurated 'between Taihape and Hihitahi and mails for the North are being dispatched 'by this service. _ Owing to water 011 the ShannonKoputaroa section of the line, the Southbound Limited and ordinary expresses which left Auckland yesterday are held up indefinitely near Shannon, till miles nort'h of Wellington. Two goods trains are also held up on the Wellington side of the sliiis.

The Napier express was dispatched from Wellington this morning bv the Wairara<pa route. Other outward expresses were sent away approximately on time, but the passengers will be late in reaching their destinations.

Speed Restrictions. Down passengers in tlie South-bound Limited express which left Auckland on Wednesday had a wearisome journey, the train being held up for many hours and eventually arriving nine hours late. The first stop occurred at Tailiape, where the train was held for some time, while a number of minor slips were being cleared from the line between Utiku, five miles further south, and Mangaonoho. After the train left Taihape several speed restrictions applied to sections of the track. The longest delay of all occurred at Rata, eight miles north of Marton. Here heavy rain had caused a wash-out on the main line.

Every available workman was pressed into service to clear the debri6. At one stage railway officials considered it nece&sary to tranship passengers from Rata to Marton by buses.