LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 458, 27 May 1909, Page 3

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

The Palmerston Evening Standard says:—“ For some months past the Government surveyors have been at work on the Railway between Palmerston and Marton making a comprehensive inspection with a view to altering the more awkward curves and reducing the grades so that the Main Trunk express might make faster time over this somewhat awkward section. At present the survey party is at work on the Greatford hill. It is not only one of the nastiest grades on the line, but there is an awkward curve or two which needs straightening. The men have almost completed their task, and it seems as if the work of reducing the grade is not going to be so expensive a job as was anticipated. It is proposed to build the line up considerably at the foot of the hill, and at the same time cut away the grade at the top. This, of course, will mean shifting the Greatford station three or four chains, but altogether the whole job will be comparatively inexpensive. The curves will be straightened by cutting into the hill,; It is not anticipated that the authorities will attempt to carry out the surveyor’s schemes for some considerable time to come, but when it is done it will certainly greatly accelerate the service and add to the safety of the line.” The opening sentence that “for some months past the Government surveyors have been at work, etc., making a comprehensive inspection over this somewhat awkward section, namely, from Palmerston to Marton,” is a confused utterance. The work of comprehensive inspection, we are told, has been with a view ” to altering the more awkward curves and reducing the grades, so that the Main Trunk express might make faster time over this somewhat awkward section.” Finally, the Standard says: It is not anticipated that the authorities will attempt to carry out the surveyor’s schemes for some considerable time to come.” Our Eevin contemporary says that the paragraph generally shows the trend of the desires of those who are expert at wire-pulling in Palmerston, their obvious purpose being to do away with, if it were possible, the necessity for the Eevin-Greatford railway. We are disposed to agreee with our PaP merston contemporary that it is unlikely the Government will go in for any material alteration of the Palmerston-Marton section for some considerable time; not, at all events, until after Parliament meets. If the time of the Main Trunk express journey is to be shortened and the distance lessened, it is well that it should be thoroughly done at once, and for all time, by making the connecting link between Eevin and Marton.