RAILWAY TO WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26124, 29 May 1950, Page 6

RAILWAY TO WEST COAST

Extensive Damage Reported LIMITED BUS SERVICE

There would be no rail traffic to the West Coast beyond Springfield till further notice, said an officer of the Railway Department last evening. As from to-day a limited number of passengers would be transported by Railway Road Services, leaving Christchurch at 7.45 a.m. each day for Westport and the Greymouth and Hokitika areas. There will also be a similar service from the West Coast.

The officer said that half a mile on the east side of the Waimakariri railway bridge at Cass the river had cut through and washed away a section of the main motor roadway and had scoured out underneath the railway line for a distance of seven or eight chains to a depth of 20 feet. This latest diversion of the river had held up the work of repairing the Waimakariri railway bridge. One pier of this bridge was undermined and two piles of another pier were washed out. Beyond the west end of the bridge 90 feet of track had been scoured out to a depth of 20 feet. Between Cora Lynn and Arthur’s Pass, continued the officer, a bridge at Halpin’s creek had been damaged and scouring had also taken place at this point. From this point to Otira the line was clear. It is expected that it will be at least a week before the Midland line to Otira from Greymouth is restored to traffic, says - a Greymouth message. One breach is more than 50 yards in extent, and the line is suspended with the Teremakau river cutting in under what was formerly the permanent way. The Midland line is open to Moana. A large number of men are employed in gangs on the line between Moana and Otira in an effort to repair the extensive damage. The damage extends over a wider area than ever before in the history of the line. One of the major problems is to get machinery and equipment to the breaches.

The Reefton-Greymouth line is also open and train services on that section of the line will be normal to-day.