RAILWAY WORKS

Evening Post, Volume 137, Issue CXI, 10 June 1926, Page 5

RAILWAY WORKS

CHRISTCHURCH FACILITIES

PROGRESS WITH IMPROVEMENTS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHUirjH, 9th June.

The new railway marshalling yards ut Middlcton are now definitsly taking shape. All the earthwork has been finished, and the men have started to lay rails for 15 sidings. Over 70 men nave been engaged there, but now that the earthworks are finished some of the casual labour will be dismissed, as plate-laying requires men who are experienced in such work. To-day an officer of the Eailway Department stated that it would be possible to complete the Micldlcton yards in a year, but the Department wished to synchronise tho work with that being done at Lyttelton and the Lyttelton tunnel. A large number of men are at present employed .making alterations at Addiugton. Some old buildings are being removed in preparation for tho now ear and wagon shops which will bo erected there. The tenders for these shops will close in November. The board which was appointed to go into the question of ascertaining whether to electrify only the Lyttelton tunnel or from the tunnel itsjlf into Lyttelton, or the whole of the lino from the port to Christchurch, has completed its observation, and will report to the Minister shortly.' Plans have been made for minor alterations at Lyttelton, but these will be done by the Railway Department's own men. It is' expected that this work will be started in two months. At present alterations are being carried out at the Gladstone pier. ' Quite shortly it is hoped to run motor rail cars on the LytteltouChristchurch line. Three have been sent to Invercargill, where they have been running for some, time, but no report has yet Aeen received about them. In future railway carriages are to be painted "Midland, red" instead of the present "Pullman green." Several other minor alterations aro being made, all of which should improve railway travelling for tho public.