TRUNK RAILWAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21958, 9 May 1941, Page 4

TRUNK RAILWAY

Progress Of Construction WANTED MATERIAL ARRIVES (P.A.) BLENHEIM, May 8. Approximately 1000 tons of rails required for the completion of the South Island main trunk railway are being landed at Picton. Ralls that can be handled at once are already being taken to various points along the line, mainly to the Clarence bridge. It is estimated that 2290 tons of rails are needed to complete the whole line and there is every reason to expect that these will shortly be available. The 1000 tons now available is sufficient to take the line within striking distance of Kalkoura from the north. With the rails already in hand on the southern section, there are sufficient to bring the line as far north as Kahautara. There is now on hand a sufficient quantity of rails to complete the line with the exception of a gap of approximately 14 miles. Formation work on the northern section enables platelaying to proceed, but it will first be necessary to repair the damage to the Clarence and Hapuku bridges caused by the heavy flood a few weeks ago. If all goes well the forec sts that the line will be completed to Kalkoura by the end of the year should be fulfilled.