MAIN TRUNK LINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 142, 13 December 1939, Page 7

MAIN TRUNK LINE

RECENT ADDITIONS

MEETING TRAFFIC NEEDS

Recent improvements introduced on the North Island Main Trunk line were outlined yesterday by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), who emphasised the importance they would be in facilitating the handling of traffic.

"With the coming into operation last Saturday of the recently-completed crossing loop at Waiteti (approximately . half-way between Te Kuiti and Puketutu), a long-standing handicap to the operation of trains in the King Country has been removed," said Mr. Sullivan. "The new crossing place will favourably affect all the trains, including the Main Trunk expresses, operating over this section.

"The distance from Te Kuiti to Puketutu is almost 9 miles, and as seven miles of this is on an upward grade of 1 in 70 from Te Kuiti, it can be readily understood how delays to other trains would occur while this exceptionally long and difficult stretch of single line was being worked. Work upon the crossing now opened for traffic was authorised and taken in hand last year.

"Under the new arrangement automatic signalling is also extended from Te Kuiti to Puketutu, and the new crossing loop at Waiteti is automatically controlled, both as to points movements and signals, under the new centralised traffic control system, from Te Kuiti —about four miles away. As indicated, the Waiteti crossing loop, which has standing accommodation for 100 four-wheeled wagons and a backshunt to hold 15 wagons, will greatly facilitate the working of goods and passenger trains by eliminating delays and congestion occasioned previously by the unbroken run of nearly nine miles between Te Kuiti and Puketutu.

"This is just one of the many works of improvement, in hand or recently completed, facilitating the movement of traffic on the Main Trunk line,' continued Mr. Sullivan. "Another is the opening of a further section of duplicated line on the run between Auckland and Frankton Junction.

DOUBLING OF TRACKS

"When the Government decided in 1936 to duplicate the railway line between Horotiu and Papakura, a distance of 58 miles, it was recognised that the work was one of considerable magnitude and would take some years to complete. Progress has been satisfactory, and last weekend a ninemile stretch from Papakura to Paerata was brought into operation.

"The position now is that the Department has double tracks from Auckland to Paerata (28 miles) and from Ohinewai to Frankton -Junction (25 miles). The portion between Paerata and Ohinewai (32 miles) still remains to be duplicated and work on this is being pressed on with."

As further evidence of tlu Railway Department's efforts to improve its services' on the busiest portions of the lyiain Trunk route, Mr. Sullivan mentioned that recently an automatic telephone exchange with a capacity of 80 automatic lines and 20 district lines was installed at Frankton Junction. "This improved system of communication," he said, "gives a highly efficient telephone service at Frankton Junction to and from all North Island railway stations."