RAILWAY DEVIATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 72, 17 December 1937, Page 13

RAILWAY DEVIATION

lur Own Correiponaent.)

Waipukurau Proposal Too Costly, Says Minister

(From

WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. The deviation ox the railway line to evoid the level-crosaing in the main street of -Waipukurau would prove too expensive and therefore caunot be favourably considered. the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, informed the Waipukurau Borough rouncil in a letter received at its meeting to-night. The council 's suggestion was that, to eliminate the level-crossing at Ruataniwha street, the Railway Department sbould investigate the possibility of deviating the railway to a site on the eaBtern side of the saleyards. It was pointed out by the cOuncil that the wooden railway bridge would eventually have to be replaCed and the new bridge could be constructed farther up the river to give effect to the proposal. The Minister replied that the suggection had been carefully investigated. It was estimated that the deviation would cost between £200,000 and £250,000, as a new station yard and a new railway bridge over the river would/ be required. The existing railway bridge, he added, was strengthened two years ago, making its replacement unnecessary for another 30 years. "The present station-yard facilities, with extensions of a comparatively minor nature, will, I understand, adequately meet reqiuirements at Waipukurau for many years to come," coneluded Mr Sullivan. "A crossingkeeper is on duty at the crossing for the pasteing of trains, so there should be little or no risk of an accident. ' '