CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RAILWAY LINES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 302, 17 September 1936, Page 13

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RAILWAY LINES

Labour-saving Machinery

To Be Used STATION FACILITIES AT WELLINGTON The importance of the railways in New Zealand’s transport system was referred to by Mr. Semple in his Public Works statement He said that in spite of the large mileage of highly improved main highways and the efficiency of modern motor transport, the railway still remained the predominant factor in the country’s transporation system, and the completion of the present isolated systems and the linkingup of the various districts by rail was, in his opinion, the proper and reasonable course to adopt

Mr. Semple said that in completing the Napier-Gisborne line, the South Island Main Trunk line and the West-port-Inangahua line, it was bis policy to utilise as far as possible the latest and most up-to-date labour-saving machinery, and, with this end in view, orders had already been placed for a number of diesel-engined shovels and drag-lines, air-compressors, lorries, concrete-mix-ers, service rails and other construction material.

Good progress, said Mr. Semple, was made during the year by the contractor with the erection of the new station building at Wellington. At the same time the layout of the new yard was proceeded with by the Railways Department and station platforms and verandas erected. The new signalcabin was completed and a contract let for the erection of the locomotive depot. The construction of Bunny Street on &. new alignment was completed, and at the close of the financial year the construction of a new taxi road was In hand.

The work of electrifying the section between Wellington and Paekakariki was continued according to schedule, the laying of the 33,000-volt cable being completed during the year and the overhead gear and rail bonding proceeded with. Sub-stations for traction power were nearing completion, and the outdoor steelwork for the electrical equipment was completed at two sub-stations.

On the Tawa Flat deviation one line was opened for night goods traffic on July 22, 1935. The thermit welding of the rails on this section of line was completed and ballasting was proceeding. The new Tawa Flat station was nearly completed at the end of the financial year.