RAILWAY LINE TO COAST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 6

RAILWAY LINE TO COAST

BAD SLIPS REPORTED AT OTIRA

DISTORTION OF BRIDGE AT CASS All railway services through to the "West Coast have been suspended because of damage to the line on either side of and in the Arthur’s Pass re-

gion. The rail-cars which would normally have run both ways between Christchurch and Greymouth were cancelled early last evening and trains will not run on Ihe Springfield-Grey-mouth section to-day. The Railway Department was badiy handicapped in deciding alterations to time-table through the break in communications. Officials know that the line was blocked but had little detail. Most concern was felt for the situation about Cass and Otira. It was reported that the Mount White railway bridge, near Cass, had taken the brunt of the Waimakariri river flood, that approaches had been washed out, and that the bridge itself had been pushed out of alignment, said the assistant train control officer at Christchurch s (Mr Peter Walker). 1 At Otira the line was reported to be badly blocked by slips. There was : also word of wash-outs at Jacksons, I and of water over the line at Inchbonnie. i The Railway Department is sending emergency gangs to these areas, but is uncertain whether they will reach the j scat of the trouble immediately be- . cause of the interruptions to transport.