RAILWAY DEVIATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18641, 23 February 1924, Page 10

RAILWAY DEVIATIONS.

LINES NEAR WELLINGTON. THREE PROPOSED TUNNELS. [by telegraph.—PßESS association.] J : WELLINGTON. Friday. On the authority of Mr. W. H. Field, M.P. for Otaki, a statement has been published that routes are now practically settled for three railway deviations—Rimutaka, Tawa Flat, and Paekakariki—which will pfovide a level line from Wellington to Napier on one side, and from Wellington to New Plymouth on the other, while effecting an almost immense . improvement in the Main Trunk line to Auckland.

It is understood that the Rimutaka deviation will begin 'at Upper Hutt with an easy grade taking the place of the present steep grade of 1 in 33 to Mangaroa allay, following along the slopes of hills on'the eastern side of Hutt Valley to a point which will reach by a tunnel, the flat of the Mangaroa Valley by a practically level line. Then the route will pick up the present line, and the main Rimutaka tunnel will enter the mountain at a point about a mile a-half north of the present Mangaroa railway station, coming out low dtwn at Cross Creek, a distance of rather more than five miles. The route will then pick up the present line oa the Wairarapa plain. The Rlmutaka tunnel from Mangaroa to Cross Creek will, it is estimated, cost about £876,000. It will be on an easy grade, and no electrification will.be required. The tunnel will not eliminate all heavy grades between Upper Hutt and Featherston, but will cut out the worst portion of the line both as regards grades and curves. • , The Tawa Flat deviation will enter a tunnel .at Ngahauranga Gorge, and, following Wakefield"Gully. will pick tin the present Manawatu line on the level between Tawa Flat and Porirua. The Paekakariki. deviation will not follow the coast line from Plimmerton to: Paekakariki. as originally intended, but. will leave the present line near Plimmerton, passing by the east side of the valley as far :as possible. and then proceed by tunnel approximately below, the present Pukerua Bay railway station to the coast, thence following the coast, and picking up the present line on the level south of Paekakariki.