MAIN TRUNK SLIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25346, 30 October 1945, Page 4

MAIN TRUNK SLIP

MUCH DELAY TO TRAINS LONG TRIP TO TARANAKI The slip which was discovered on the Main Trunk railway line between Te Kuiti and Taumarunui at about 10 o'clock on Sunday night, causing serious delay to three express trains, was finally cleared at approximately 5 o'clock yesterday morning. The trains affected were two expresses which lett Auckland for Wellington and NewLlymoiit.ii at 6 o'clock and 7.50 respecti\el> on Sunday evening and the WellingtonAuekland express which left Wellington a t p.m. .... The express from Wellington did not arrive in Auckland until H).f>B this morning, having lost four hours while the south-bound trains for Wellington and New Plvmoiith were delayed tor >ix and a-half hours and three hours respectively. The train for New* Ilynioufch was fnri her delaved on the Okahukura-Strat-ford section by n slip which came down at the mouth of a tunnel between Tanuarakau and Ohura, 26 miles on the Stratford side of Taumarunui. This area started to give trouble early yesterday morning, but the first slip was cleared within a few hours, ' An even heavier fall occurred at, n o'clock and the main line was completely blocked until about 5 p.m. In the meantime the delaved express, with passengers, was held at Houra. lunch ami afternoon tea being provided u\ the Railway Department, lhe express arrived at New Plymouth more than Id ihours late. , . The Main Trunk line was blocked in the Taihape area for three hours by a slip which came down at noon yesterday between Mataroa and Ngaurukehu. The line was clear by -i o'clock in the afternoon. Two mixed trains were delaved.