TRACK RESTORED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 11

TRACK RESTORED

Wellington-W airar apa Railway Line

SLIPS AND WASHOUTS After being blocked for two days by slips and washouts caused by the storm last Monday, the railway line between Upper Hutt and Cross Creek was opened again for through traffic at 8 o'clock last night. From then onward trains were able to negotiate the affected areas, but it was stated last night that every precaution was _ being taken and that speed restrictions would apply till the track ballast was properly consolidated. .

A series of slips and washouts between Mangaroa, three miles north of Upper Hutt, and Summit completely blocked the permanent way, and from Monday afternoon till last evening traffic .between Wellington and the Wairarapa, via Upper Hutt, was suspended. Trains which left Wellington on Monday morning were able to get through, but afternoon departures were cancelled.

The first passenger train to leave Wellington for the Wairarapa since Monday morning was a railcar which departed at 6.4 p.m. yesterday. The car wffs delayed en route while repairs to the track were being completed between Kaitoke and Summit, but by 8 o’clock the Hue was clear and the car continued its journey without difficulty.

Earlier in the day the permanent way was restored where a washout had occurred near Mangaroa, but the task of clearing the line between Kaitoke and Summit took longer to complete. As on the previous day, perishable freight traffic between Wellington and the Wa-i--rarapa was diverted to z the Manawatu line. River Erosion. Erosion by the Hutt River at s' point just south of Belmont yesterday morning endangered the permanent way and caused delay to the 6.28 a.m. Upper Hutt-Wellington service and subsequent trains. By 8 o’clock the trouble had been rectified sufficiently to permit the passage of trains with safety and the line was open ail day. No further delays occurred.

The trouble developed after the flood waters had. started to subside and at about 4 a.m. the bank of the river began to crumble at a point several chains south of where the line was endangered more than a year ago. At 6 a.m. another six feet of the bank broke away. As a protective measure the track was moved about eight feet from the edge of the bank.

Railway officials reported last night that all lines were now open to traffic. Though speed restrictions will still apply to portions of the track between Upper Hutt and Summit, normal schedules will (be restored on the Wairarapa line today.