OPENING OF RAILWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21289, 16 September 1932, Page 12

OPENING OF RAILWAY

STRATFORD MAIN TRUNK ABOUT END OF NOVEMBER FIRST THROUGH TRAFFIC OPERATION BY PUBLIC WORKS [BY TEI.EGU AI'II —IMIESS association] "WELLINGTON, Thursdny It was stated officially to-day that tho construction of the Stratford-Main lrunk railway lino, 89 miles long, will bo completed by about tho end of November, when it is expected through traffic will bo acceptod. Tho line will probably bo operated by tho Public Works Department until tho end of tho financial year, at which time it will he taken over by the Railway Department. Tho first sod on tho new line at tho Stratford end was turned in 1901, and work on the lino has continued with interruptions from that date. The lino will jojn tho Main Trunk at Okahukura, seven miles from tho district centre and railway sub-terminal at Taumnrunui. Ilio lirst sod ou tho Slain Trunk end was turned by Sir Joseph Ward in 1911, and tho work of joining tho two sections has boen a long task, partly because of tho difficult nature of tho country. Tho two sections will join 56 miles from Stratford and 33 miles from Okahukura. Tho Stratford-Alain Trunk line and tho Tawa Plat deviation were tho only two railway construction works out of seven being carried out not to bo closed down within the past two years, either by tho United Party Government or tho Coalition Government, A summary of tho operations ou the lines under construction was placed on the table of tho House of Representatives in 1930, and this dealt with the Okahukura-Tahora section of tho Strat-ford-Main Trunk line, which is miles long. Tho estimated capital cost was shown at, £2,259,000, or 1154,000 a mile. At that timo it was estimated tho total loss per annum on tho operation of tho lino would bo £39,700, the total annual loss, with interest charges, being estimated at £152,650. "A considerable portion of tho traffic now carried via Marlon between tho Main Trunk line and stations north of Wanganui will be diverted to the new and shorter route, resulting in a substantial loss of revenue, which will, however, bo set off very largely by reduced haulage costs and by any additional traflic that may ho developed," tho report stated. "On this basis tho loss will be equivalent to the cost of working Hlio new line, plus interest charges on the capital cost." Work on the line is rapdly Hearing an end. There will bo 25 tunnels, with a total length of six miles 34 chains. The last of these has now been pierced, and it is expected to complete the lining on this tunnel in about two months' timo. Tho only work then remaining will be plate-laying and ballasting, the widening of a few cuttings and tlio clearing of slips. None of the line at the Okahukura end has been handed over to the Railway Department owing to the complication of construction and ballasting operations while traflic was behtg handled. However, all traffic offering has been handled by the Public Works Department.