TURAKINA DEVIATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21576, 12 February 1940, Page 4

TURAKINA DEVIATION

WORK PROCEEDING STEADILY By Telegraph—Press Association WANGANUI, February 10. Work is proceeding steadily on the Okoia-Turakina railway deviation, which will shorten the route by four miles, straighten the line and eliminate grades between Palmerson North and Wanganui. The Deniair tunnel of threequarters of a mile has been pierced, and the Turakina tunnel of a mile and a quarter is expected to be finished by April. The total deviation is 10 miles. The new line will leave the present line near Turakina and, after crossing the Turakina and Wangaehu Rivers and the Wangaehu Valley, will rejoin the existing line about a mile and a half south of Okoia. The work, which was begun in 1936 is estimated to cost more than £500,000. At Turakina 140 men are working. The Deniair complement, which at one stage was 300, has dwindled to 42, following the finishing of the tunhel.

In the running time between Turakina and Aramoho, which now takes nearly an hour with expresses, it is estimated that the time-table will be shortened by at least half an hour, through the steep grades being eliminated. It is estimated that haulage alone, based on the preent traffic, will result in a saving of between £40,000 and £50,000 a year.