SLIP DISRUPTS RAIL TRAFFIC

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29228, 11 June 1960, Page 14

SLIP DISRUPTS RAIL TRAFFIC

N.I. Main Trunk Line Blocked (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 10. Tons of earth and scrub spilled on to the main trunk railway line and halted rail traffic through the centre of the North Island today. The line is not expected to be open until 10 a.m. tomorrow. Some train trips were, cancelled and others were diverted over the Stratford-Okahukura line. Passengers on the 3.40 p.m. expresses running between Wellington and Auckland travelled by bus between National Park and Taumarunui. The delay in the trains’ running times was expected to be about an hour. Because of the greater number of sleeper cars, the Limited expresses from Auckland and Wellington were running via Stratford. These trains were expected to take about two or three hours longer than the scheduled times for the journey.

An express goods train with a load of bananas from Auckland went via Stratford to Wellington.

The huge slip came down about two miles and a half south of Kakahi between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. It is estimated that 8000 yards of earth slid down a hillside. I Clearing work was begun with machinery from Taumarunui, Ohura, Taihape and other King Country areas. Work was to be pushed ahead throughout the night in an effort to clear the line for tomorrow's scheduled rail traffic. The slip is 10 to 12 feet deep for the whole of its length, of about two chains.