RAILWAY WORKS

Evening Star, Issue 19272, 10 June 1926, Page 11

RAILWAY WORKS

THE CANTERBURY PROGRAMME [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, June 9. The new railway marshalling yards at Middleton are now definitely taking shape. All the earthwork has been finished, and the men have started to lay rails for the fifteen sidings. Over seventy men have been enraged there, but now that the earthworks are finished some of the casual labor will bo dismissed, as platelaying requires men who are experienced in such work. To-day an officer of the Railways Department stated that it would bo possible to complete the Middleton yards in a year, but the department wishes to synchronise the work with that being done at .Lyttelton and the Lyttelton tunnel. A* large number of men are at present employed making alterations at Addington, and some old buildings are being removed in preparation for the now car and wagon shops which will be 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 itself into Lyttelton, or the whole of the lino from the port to Christchurch, lias completed its observations, and will report to the Minister shortly. Plans have been made for minor alterations at Lyttelton, but these will bo done by the Railways Department’s own men. It is expected that this workwill be started ih two months’ time. At present alterations are being carried out at Gladstone pier. Quito shortly it is hoped to run motor rail cars on the Lyttelton-Christchnrch line. Two have been sent to Invercargill, where they have - been running for some time, but no report has yet been received about them. In future railway carriages are to be painted “ Midland red ” instead of the present “Pullman green.” Several other minor alterations are being made, all of which will improve railway travelling for the public.