The Main Trunk Una.

Manawatu Herald, 10 May 1902, Page 2

The Main Trunk Una.

In Thursday’s New Zealand Times the following letter appears Mr Ernest S. Thynno, of Poxton, writesln reference to the able article on “Railway IProjeots” in the Times of Friday, permit me to speak in favour of a portion of the proposed new route, from personal observation. A line of railway from Mar ton Junction to Levin is easily obtainable. The route from the two points, by way of Bulls, Sandon, Foxton and Levin, makes the actual mileage shorter by some eleven os twelve miles. It is through perfectly level country, avoiding all the . heavy gradients between the junction and Palmerston. The line would be a straight continuation of the Main Trunk Line to Auckland. At present tha Government line runs six miles towards Carnarvon; the tramway (which is of the same gauge as the railway, and the Government rolling stock is worked upon it] runs to the Rangitikei 'river; and when the bridge, which is being built, is finished, will run through to Bulls, thus leaving about four miles to form from the latter township to Marton Junction. That the tramway would not be adapted for heavy trains is admitted, but tha land and the formation and sleepers are there, heed-, ing but heavier rails being laid and the culverts strengthen 3d. The expense to the Government so far would be but small, and would be repaid by the saving in weir and tear. The line from Foxton to Levin also lies through level country. Tha part from Levin to Waikanat will ha easy of construction, you say, and every traveller by the Manawatu line can corroborate the statement. Beyond I do not pretend to know anything of. Looking at the proposal ; from the northern portion, the pbsi- ’ tion is one which demands immediate attention, as ■ directly the Main Trunk Line is opened the necessity for another line of rails on the Go? vernment line becomes apparent (for Wellington traffic), and if the easement of the present line can be, effected by shortening distance and ' grades, the purchase of the .Manawatu County Council’s tramway ia the best and cheapest. Supposing that the Manawatu railway continues • to run, and the Government did not see its way to give effect to the whole of the proposals, that which I have just sketched would wonderfully relieve the Government line from pressure of traffic and would give a further mileage of carriage to the Government as for as Levin instead . of to Longburn. Even if the Manawatu railway is purchased by the Government, which I hope it will be, alters the proposal not a bit, as the ohief traffic in the future must be on the Main Trunk Line, and the further that is brought towards Wellington, apart from the present local . traffic, the lesser the distance will the Government have to lay with double lines. Thus if the route to Levin was adopted, it would not be an

dfc*>nsive matter to duplicate the the company’s line to Waikanae and the diversion to the Upper Hutt would, I assume, be cheaper than putting in new tunnels up the Paikakariki. Of course money is the consideration, but it is well that this discussion has been raised previous to any money having been spent, as I consider the proposals suggest a great saving in the long run to o«r Main Trunk Line.