REPAIR JOB ON LINES

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 1

REPAIR JOB ON LINES

I.New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 1.

One set of the washed-out railway lines between Papakura and Drury will be opened briefly tomorrow morning to let the Limited and Wellington express trains and another carrying urgent goods through to Auckland.

The twin tracks were cut in two places during Monday night’s freak storm, stranding two goods trains amid the floodwaters. The Railways Department district engineer, Mr R. H. Newton, said tonight the south line had been restored sufficiently to carry main line traffic. “But we will have to close it after the three trains have passed through to complete the work.” he said.

It would be fully opened later in the day.

He expected work on the north line would be finished before Friday. The 15 waggons derailed from the Rotorua goods train on Monday night were being replaced and moved tonight. All the waggons on the Frankton-Auckland train were moved away today. The Paeroa-Tauranga line, which was blocked by slips and wash-outs in six places between the Karangahake gorge and Tauranga will probably be closed for about two days. Railways Department officers will start organising a road movement of urgent goods tomorrow.