RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19202, 7 January 1928, Page 12

RAILWAY EXTENSION.

BAY OF PLENTY LINE,

[THE PEESS Special Berries,]

AUCKLAND, January 6.

Within two months it is expected that trains will be running on the new section of, railway line from Wailii to Taneatua through the Bay of Plenty.' This will add another 85 miles of permanent way to the Auckland railway district, and passengers will be able to travel direct from Auckland to Taneatua by train. Another section of line which, it is expected, will be completed and,opened toward tho end of March will be that from Waiotira to Kirikopuni, the, first part of tlio line connecting Auckland with Dargaville direct. Work has progressed favourably on the various sections of the line through the Bay of Plenty and the engineers, Sir W. 6. Armstrong, Whitworth, alid Co., Ltd., are now ready to hand over to the Public Works Department that section of the line from Tahawai to Te Puna. This.is the last stretch of lino through the Bay, la'- miles in length, and completes the whole of the line from Waihi to Taneatua, including the piece recently taken over between Wailii and Tahawai.* The section of the line betwecji Taneatua and Tauranga is at present being run by the Public Work's Department. With the completion of the line through the Bay of Plenty and its being taken over by the Railway Department cornea the question of a nearer route from the Bay to Auckland. The necessary link will run from Paeroa to Pokeno on the main line south of Pukekohe, across the Piako swamp. This will reduce the rail distance from the Bay of Plenty to Auckland by between 40 and 50 miles and will save the long journey down .jto Prankton Junction and back.