MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29591, 14 August 1961, Page 12

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

Normal Run Today (N-Z. Press Association) (WELLINGTON, August 13. The Main Trunk railway in the Taihape area consolidated well under goods traffic today and the normal timetable will be resumed tomorrow. Giving this information today, a Railways Department spokesman said that the normal express trains between Wellington and Auckland would travel over the line tomorrow night for the first time since last Saturday week. The goods traffic, which accumulated last week when the Main Trunk was blocked with ships and washouts, was almost cleared by tonight. Eight special goods trains travelled south from Taumarunui today and a number also went north. Today the early express was cancelled from both Auckland and Wellington and all passengers were accommodated .in the Limited expresses. Because the Main Trunk line was still open only to daylight traffic both trains travelled by way of Stratford.

Major trouble also came to the main Hawke's Bay line on Friday night when 10 or 12 chains of track just north of the Ormondville viaduct was blocked by a large subsidence. ’Die spokesman said that it looked as if it would be another two days at least before the line was back in use. In the meantime, passengers were being transhipped by road between Dannevirke and Waipukurau and urgent parcels. perishable goods, and mail were being taken by road between Napier and Palmerston North. The Automobile Association reported tonight that all roads were open except the Raetihi-Wanganui highway. This was still closed by slips. Although the main Wellington-Auckland Desert road is open, motorists are asked to drive with care between Mangaweka and Taihape. The Wellington airport said tonight that all New Zealand airports were open today and that air traffic operated normally over the week-end.