NEW RAILWAY ROUTE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 7

NEW RAILWAY ROUTE

qrrrio paekakariki

PROPOSED DEVIATION (Contributed by Dr, Newman, M.P.) A good number of pooplo in Wellington being interested in the improve--moot of the railway from Wellington to Paokakariki, I send The Dominion this statement of the case. During tho last Parliament I urged that a survey should bo raado to obtain a branch- lino, if possible, from Thorndon to Paokakariki—from Wellington Harbour to its rioh West Coast back-coun-try. The Government have done this, and full details will bo ready when 'Parliament meets.

So heavy is the- traffic now between this city and Paokakariki that' the question of duplication must be faced. For all time the heaviest traffic on any New Zealand railway is going to be on the bit Welliugton-PaekakariH. The Dominion must face the question of a double line to carry the fast-grow-ing traffio. I have for years believed not in duplication—but a new route. The pre-sent-route climbs up'into the air some 510 ft. between. Khandallah and Johnsonville, then drops down to sea level, then climbs to Pukerua, 267 ft., and then falls to almost sea level. . Add the two climbs,- and it makes about 720 ft. For all time, all goods up-and down, and passengers, have to be hauled 780 ft. in the air—and duplication, affords no relief.

A New Flat Route. Whan I spoke about it in the House,' people, who know the district well suggested a' survey of a route from the Korokoro. near the Petone Woollen Mills, towards Tawa Flat and Porirua. This route has been surveyed, and is there is a better way. The route'l have always thought profitable would run from somewhere between the railway line at Ngahaurahga and: Petone by a tunnel under the Johrisonville hills to the upper, end of Tawa Flat. This "line has been surveyed, and gives'-' excellent- results. It will-start from Or-near Rocky Point, about one mile beyond Ngahauranga, and run by tunnel to Tawa Flat'.

The Ngahanranga-Tawa Flat, tunnel frill be about one -and three-quarter miles long. Don't gasp, Mr. Editor, at its size. It is close to Wellington Harbour, it will run through easy and settled, country. There is little chance of engineering difficulties; little chance of water or other tunnels. Work can bo begun at both ends. For so long a tunnel it will probably be easy to mako, and. there are-' excellent roads to each end. It will not he a dear tunnel to make. If we duplicate the present line' we; shall have heavy cuttings—and there are now twelve tunnels,' and twelve more to be made if the present line be doubled. "

A level line has been surveyed. Startr ing from near the present Plimmerton railway station, it will curve to the seashore, go round the bluff, and come in again _to the i present line near Paekakariki—a dead level line all the way and easy to make'. ; No Pukerua ' Hill; ■ 267 feet, to make; no tunnels and no sidings down to Paekakariki., True, it is two miles longer;. but _ look at the haulage saved, and trie trains will probably go as fast as they, do now. Duplications Versus the New Line.

By going from Rocky Point, on the Ngahauranga line, to Xawa Flat, there .will.be a line with .excellent curves and a grade of lin -100. i'am assured that 1 in 100 is as useful to ths-railway as a flat line, for the engines can draw the heaviest loads over it.

With one tunnel and'the road round the rocks, Plimmerton to Paekakariki, we get a level line to.the.West Coast, for all timsj for all the luge traffic. This line will save the heavy inclines to Johnsonville and l : at Pukerua, and the main cost is. this tunnel. Look at the saving in working expenses—for ever— over duplication.

I have no estimate of the oost of the tunnel, but can guess it fairly nearly. Tunnels through easy country used to oost £50,000 per *nile, say £200,000. But I will add 50 per cent.—call it £300,000—an outside estimate. Even at this cost, I am confident the new line tfill cost far less than duplication' of the present line. Look at the'saving in haulage and/working expenses for all time. By this route there will be no breaking up of heavy trains at Paekakariki, but full train loads from Feeding to tnis port. One engine, not two, will take, the biggest expresses in and out of- Wellington ' As we must face duplication and ita heavy cost, and its internal heavy working costs,* you will see that a cheaper level route, with' far lighter working expenses, is an enormous gain to the Dominion. , I am delighted with the result of the surveys, for I see the huge gain it will be. ''