PORT LINE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19311, 16 May 1928, Page 10

PORT LINE.

ELECTRIFICATION WORK. "Everything is going nicely according to programme, and there appears to be little doubt that the line will be open for electric traffic by the end of the year," said Mr G. W. Wyles, officer in charge of the electrification of the Christchurch-Lyttelton line to' a representative of The Pkess yesterday morning. A great deal of the overhead wire had already arrived and had been strung out and tied temporarily to the poles, and the balance was expected to arrive at an early date. The work was proceeding at a satisfactory rate in the tunnel, but the wire would not be strung there until the last moment prior to the change over from steam to electricity owing to the damage that was likely to occur through corrosion due to smoke fumes. The six electric locos which are to haul the trains when the new service is' inaugurated were due to reach Lyttelton iir Octobw, but it. was at present not anticipated that any different cars will be necessary from those in use at the moment. The locos, which are of a larger horse-power than those operating the Otira section of the Midland line, will be capable of hauling 800 tons of freight each and to take trains through the tunnel at- a speed of upwards of 45 miles per hour. The Public Works Department is engaged in the work of connecting the 11,000 volt feeder line from Addington with the new sub-station at Woolston, at which the power will be converted into a 1500 volt direct current for use on the line. When completed the work on the line will cost about £193,000. Mr Wyles states that the work of , electrification of the workshops at Addington Hillside, Otahuhu, and the Hutt Valley is proceeding at a satisfactory rate.