OTIRA TUNNEL WORKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18675, 3 October 1922, Page 6

OTIRA TUNNEL WORKS

GOOD PROGRESS REPORTED, From Ocr Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH. October 2. Mr Henry .1, Marriner. chairman of the Raiiw ay Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, who has just made a visit of inspection to the Oliva tunnel works, 'reports that work is nearing completion at Arthur’s Pass. The railway yard and the work of levelling and laying tracks are nearly finished. It is expected that the work will be finished by the end of the year and opened Mr traffic. The subway which is being built in order that passengers will not have to cross electrified’ rails is beginning. and is to be finished al the same time. The new site for the station is being prepared. The only work of any magnitude likely to bold up the miming’ of trains is the bridge over the Bcaly River, which will.be finished by Christmas. As far as the Arthur’s Pass railway system is concorned the engineer in charge says that tile works will lie completed by the end of the year. The inside of the tunnel is nearly finished. All power lines have been placed in position, and with regard to electrical work inside (hero is only (he overhead wire to he put in its place to connect it with the power dines and work is completed. Rut (ho engineers think it advisable not: to finish this until they are ready to test the whole electrical workings in about a fortnight, when ballasting will be finished. Mr Marriner concluded his report by saying that there is no chance of the tunnel being opened by the end of the year, as after all the works are completed it is expected it will take three months to test all electrical appliances, so that in all probability it will be about Easter of 1923 before everything is in full working order.