STRATFORD RAILWAY LINE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1930, Page 9

STRATFORD RAILWAY LINE

report of commission "NO RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE” SCHEME 'SURVIVES EXAMINATION. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Reporting on the SJratford-Tahora line the Railway Commission states that the operating revenue and expenditure for the Whole branch for last year was as follows:—

Branch revenue, £15,860. Feeder value, £1896. Total revenue, £17,856. Working expenses, £28,157. , Interest, £33,216. Total lose, £43,517. / The report remarks that the line extends from Stratford to its present terminus at Tahora and will eventually connect with the main line at Okahukura. The capital cost of construction to date amounts to approximately £764,000, an average of £16,000 a mile.

In view of the fact that it is a main trunk line and is nearly completed the commission has no recommendation to make. The portion of the traffic now being carried via Marton will go via the Stratford line when completed. Last year the total tonnage carried via Marton to stations in Taranaki, in eluding Wanganui and New Plymouth, ■was 75,474 tons, and from these stations to Taumarunui and northwards 4567 tons, or an average of 260 tons per day. The operating of the line will result in a heavy loss without any apparent increase in revenue unless by the development of the coal mine at Tangarakau.