RAIL DUPLICATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23433, 24 August 1939, Page 16

RAIL DUPLICATION

HUNTLY TO OHINEWAI OPENING NEXT SUNDAY LOWER OPERATING COSTS Five miles of new railway track, from Himtly to Ohinewai, which is part of the duplication scheme between Auckland and Frankton, will bo opened to traffic oil Sunday. The last length of duplicated line to bo put into service was between Ngaruawahia and Huntlv, a distance of 10 miles. The* total length of duplicated line from Frankton northward will be 25 miles when the new section is opened on Sunday. This, together with the 21 miles from Auckland to Papakura, will leave approximately 40 miles to be completed. Of this section 25 miles of formation work has already been carried out. The most difficult portion of the remaining 15 miles is the swamp area between .Mercer and To Kauwhata. After the opening of the HuntlyOliinewai section, the next length of duplicated lino to be made available will be that from Papakura to Paerata, a distance of eight miles. It is expected that this section will be in use by the end of November. The duplication of the whole railway from Auckland to Frankton will, it is estimated, bo completed in about two and a-half vears. Those sections that have alreadv been duplicated are making the handling of trains much easier, and savings are being effected in train operation. AVith the duplication of the full length of line, it is stated, there will be a substantial saving in train-operating costs, and an almost total absence-of delays which now occur owing to congestion or traffic on the single lino.