Railway Link With West Coast Restored

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30093, 29 March 1963, Page 10

Railway Link With West Coast Restored

The damage caused to rail and road links between Canterbury and the West Coast by the heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday is now almost completely repaired. It is hoped that by the week-end transport will be almost completely back to normal. By late last night the rail link had been restored, and by late yesterday afternoon all roads, with the exception of the Arthur’s Pass route, were open.

Railway gangs worked into the night repairing a big wash-out about half a mile from the Arthur's Pass station. They had the line back in service by 10.30 p.m.. with a speed restriction.

Side-tipping waggons able to carry 40 tons were used to take filling from a nearby shingle fan to the washout, where the swollen Bealey river had scoured the track bed. A gap 140 feet long, 30 feet deep, and nine feet wide had to be filled. While the line was closed passengers and perishable goods were taken over the Lewis Pass in buses. It was expected the Christchurch to Ross rail-car would leave Christchurch as usual at 1.50 a.m. today. Railway officials said last evening there might be some delay as the railcar was piloted across the repaired wash-out. A railcar left Greymouth for Christchurch at 6.15 p.m., and as it was thought the track might not be clear by the time it arrived at Arthur’s Pass about 8.30 p.m., a bus was scheduled to meet it there and bring on the 28 passengers.

Yesterday about 4000 tons of cargo was standing at Springfield and other sidings waiting to be moved to the West Coast. About 5000 tons

of cargo was waiting at Arthur's Pass and Otira to be brought to Christchurch. As many goods trains as possible will be used, and railway officials are hopeful that by this evening cargo movement will be nearly back to normal.

Though all roads except that through Arthur's Pass are open, cleaning-up is still going on. The break in the Arthur's Pass road is at Candys Bend, which is always badly affected by adverse weather. There is a major wash-out there, and the Ministry of Works said yesterda. the road was not expected to be opened until late today: There are many slips and wash-outs in the Buller Gorge but the road was open to traffic, although work was still going on. There were slips on the Westport-Grey-mouth highway at Costellos Hill, but the road was open The same situation exis'ed between Greymouth and Paringa. where there had been slips in the Mount Hercules area.

There had been considerable flooding at Harihari but the road was open. On the Weheka Hills there were extensive slips and wash-outs with considerable surface scouring. Although work was still going on. the road was open. The road between Westpart and Karamea had been flooded and blocked by slips, particularly at the Karamea Bluffs, but was reopened yesterday morning.

The Westland County Council experienced its worst trouble at the Waitaha river, where a new bridge was nearing completion. One of the approaches was washed out and the temporary bridge washed away. The new bridge will be pressed into service sooner than expected The road along the Poerua river valley was yesterday impassable, with piles of debris on the road. There was general scouring on a number of other roads. In the Inangahua, although flooding was greater than for many years, there was no road damage. Although various houses on the West Coast were surrounded with water on Wednesday it is understood only two were entered by the floodwaters. Mr A. Clark, who lives at the foot of the Blackball Hill, evacuated has house on Wednesday morning. About 18m of water entered the house. Yesterday Mr and Mrs Clark were starting to clean out mud and silt throughout the house. Mr A, McVicar, of Ikamatua, was in Greymouth on Wednesday when water entered his home to a depth of about 4in. Neighbours prevented further damage by lifting furniture, carpets and floor coverings. Stock losses in the Grey Valley were negligible because farmers had sufficient warning and moved the.r stock to higher ground.