SUBURBAN RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19502, 4 December 1926, Page 13

SUBURBAN RAILWAYS.

DUPLICATION OF THE LINE. PENROSE-OTAHUHU section. CHANGING-OVER TO-MORROW. The railway between Penrose and Otafctihn will be converted to double track ■working to-morrow, thus extending the duplication of the lines from Auckland by three miles to a total of nine miles. Preparation for the change-over has been made during the present week and the final touches will be added over the weekend. The duplication of this length of the ]iue will ensure much more regular ser ■vices for both the through and suburban trains. In the past numerous delays have occurred on account of trains having to cross on the single linq and these j crossings will now be eliminated. Tho inauguration of the new line will synchronise with the coming into operation of the summer time-table on the railways. In conjunction with tho duplication of the line, extensive alterations and additions have been made at the Westfield find Otahuhu station yards to facilitate tho working of cross traffic, and in preparation for the opening of the deviation of the line along the foreshore. The existing system of manual signalling and interlocking will be abolished as from to-mor-row, and the double line automatic signals, which have been installed, will come into operation. This system, which is the latest development in railway signalling, will eventually be extended to Mercer. It employs three colours for indicating whether the section ahead of the train is clear or occupied by another train and also whether the section next ahead but one is clear or occupied. The duplication of the line on to Papatoetoe is now to be pushed ahead, and it is anticipated this section will be completed during the coming year. It is . considered by the Railway Department that the extension of the duplication to Papatoetoe will meet the expansion of tho railway traffic on this line for many years to come. It is not anticipated that anything of a construction nature in regard to the tube line under the city will be done until the .Westfield deviation has been completed. This.undertaking has received the approval of the Government and recently the department acquired the land required for the terminus of the line on Beach Road and Anzac Avenue.