TRAINS LATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23428, 18 August 1939, Page 8

TRAINS LATE

MAIN TRUNK SUPS LENGTHY DELAYS EFFECT OF HEAVY EAIN TROUBLE NEAR TAIIIAPE Slips on the Main Trunk south of Tailiape as a result of exceptionally heavy rain on Wednesday night delayed the northbound and southbound limited expresses due at Auckland and Wellington yesterday, and subsequent falls of debris during the day and last night further dislocated traffic. ' The afternoon and limited expresses from Auckland and Wellington are being delayed and the arrival times of the trains due from the south this morning were uncertain late last night.

Gangs were still engaged last night endeavouring to get the line clear. While passages were cleared for various trains during the day further debris fell at intervals and blocked the line again. The northbound limited express, which usually arrives at 9.30 a.m., did not reach Auckland yesterday until 12.20 p.m. The southbound limited arrived at Wellington abwit 6..30 last evening, approximately nine hours late. Long Wait at Taihape The southbound train reached Taihape on schedule at 4.15 a.m. yesterday, leaving at 4.130 a.m. On arrival at Utiku, six miles south of Taihape, however, advice was received that the line was blocked by several slips between Utiku and Mangaweka, which would require a number of hours to clear. The express was brought back to Taihape, where it remained until 10.30 a.m. During the long delay the passengers breakfasted in Taihape hotels. Preparations were made to convey them to Mnrton bv road, but owing to slips on the highway these had to he abandoned. The train left Taihape for the second time at 10.30 a.m., but was held up at Utiku until nearly mid-day, when the line to Mangaweka was clear. Owing to a large washout on the line near Rata, however, the train was delayed for some time at Hunterville, the jounrey through to Wellington taking nearly 24 hours.

Work Under Difficulties About 100 men from Utiku and M&ngaweka worked through the night in teeming rain on the series of slips, while gangs from Marton, Hunterville and Rata were engaged repairing the line at the scene of the washout. Goods and passenger services between Taihape and Marton were dislocated, some being suspended. Advice was received in Auckland late last night that the express which left Wellington yesterday afternoon was about an hour and a-half late after negotiating the Mangaweka-Utiku section and was being further delayed by a slip at Hihitahi, 17 miles north of Taihape. The limited express left Wellington an hour late and was also meeting with delays on the affected sections.

The afternoon and limited expresses and also the New Plymouth express left Auckland yesterday 011 time. MEAGRE INFORMATION PASSENGERS COMPLAIN DELAYS ON OTHER LINES GENERAL DISLOCATION [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday "Passengers were given only the vaguest of information about the delay or 110 information at all," said Mr. A. K. North, of Auckland, a passenger 011 the limited express, who was travelling to "Wellington to attend the annual meeting of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. "Most of the passengers felt tiie delay was serious, and considered the Railway Department should have given more information." Widespread heavy rain in the southern half of the North Island last night and again to-day dislocated railway traffic generally. The south-bound New Plymouth express, delayed by slips, reached Wellington two hours late, and delays occurred to other trains on tho Manawatu and Wairarapa lines. Slips also occurred in tho Manawatu Gorge.