The Levin-Marton Railway Project

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 February 1916, Page 2

The Levin-Marton Railway Project

(Oliakune Times,) For many years past Hie residents of Foxton ond Levin have at intervals brought before the Government the benelits of a railway running from Levin, through Foxton and oil to Marton, which would shorten the journey between Wellington and Marton >uy sixteen miles. A syndicate of wealthy " men 'brought before the >late'liichard iSeddon, the then Premier, the necessity of constructing this line and offered to finance its construction if granted certain privileges wTien the line was in going order. But Mr Seddon declined the offer. Every, now and then a fresh agitation arises, and tlie oilier day a meeting was held in Marton to keep the subject warjn. though, as public . finances now stand, it is hopeless to expect the Government to do anything off hand. To every' resident along the Alain Trunk line the construction of a branch railway from Levin to Marton should appeal. . The long journey ITOm Wellington to Auckland would Ibe shor- - tened bv sixteen ljiiles. saving an hour in every journey to and fro, and of course every township en route would kli are in the boon. The people of Palmerston are opposing the construction of this line because it side-tcracke them to some extent, but they would not suffer in any way. The present route from Levin to Marton is a Luge bend, whereas the proposed line would be a straight one. From Levin tq l'oxton is alcost level land, wd front Foxton to. a line of railway is now in use, so that, tor the heavy traffic of t?io Main Trunk, little formation, conipartively speaking, is required. The chief expense would be bridging the Mxmawatu and I'aiigitikei rivers. Here is » route which saves sixteen miles,, over easy country, which is already railed between Foxton and the Rangitikei river. And what an immense saving yearly there would 'be in wear and tear of rolling stock with sixteen miles cut out. The traffic cm tlie present line is exceeding Heavy and tlie expense prodigious. Wo 'therefore join in the agitation for the Government to consider the best way of financing the undertaking. If public funds just now will not allow, the Government should allow private capital to construct the line. Tlie saving of expense and wear and rolling stock on the present track between Le- , vin and Marton is so enormous that it would go far to pay the interest on the outlay. IThc project is a worthy one, and the benefits to be obtained so groat that we hope every local body between - Wellington andi Auckland will throw their influence into the scale to bring .about the construction of tliis line «w I soon as possible.