LEVIN-FOXTON-MARTON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2156, 29 July 1920, Page 1

LEVIN-FOXTON-MARTON RAILWAY.

Mr W. H. Field, M.P., has sent the following letter to the Minister of Railways:— “Herewith I send you telegram from the Horowhenua County Council strongly supporting the Lovin-Foxton-Marton deviation of ..the Main Trunk railway. This I send as am illustration of the unanimous view of every local body, chamber of commerce, Farmers’ Union branch, and indeed of settlers and residents generally along the Manawatu line tfrom Levin southwards. 'We are all convinced from facts and figures that the construction of this railway is an infinitely better project from the national point of view than the local deviation at Palmerston North. This larger deviation must inevitably come in the near future, and the congestion in Palmerston North affords the necessary reason for commencing the undertaking without delay. It would at once relieve Palmerston North of at least half of the two difficulties which that town is at present experiencing, namely, the overburdening of’the present yard with traffic, and the danger resulting from so many trains running through the centre of the town with unprotected level crossings. The larger deviation would take all the trains coming and going on the Main Trunk and New Plymouth lines. You will readily realise the enormous relief of traffic this would be to Palmerston North. But apart from this question it is understood that Mr Hiley had in view the construction of an island,station at Palmerston North, and the re-arrangement of the yard accommodation there, which would have overcome all congestion difficulties for many years to come. I should like to get a copy of Mr Hiley’s proposals, if possible. I understand that under his scheme the station was to be approached by sub-ways, and that by moving the goods shed and economising the very large yard room already possessed by Palmerston North, a very large number of new lines could be laid. Were it necessary to extend the yard accommodation, there is, I believe, ample land, at present used for grazing only, which could be secured at a. reasonable price. But I am informed that the land at present held by the railway is by no means fully utilised, and that the objectionable and dangerous shunting into the Square of Palmerston North could easily be avoided. The adoption of the American 'drop-bar’ system at the level crossings at the Square would practically eliminate all danger of accident. I am not surprised to learn that a large section of the Palmerston North people, principally those on the Main Street, between the present station and the Square, strongly object to the proposed change, which would probably spell ruin to many of them. The deviation at Palmerston North would, I am told, entail the building of the new line over low-lying, wet country, at present used for dairying, and that the compensation payable would be very heavy. Indeed, the figures given by a gentleman who attended the representative meeting at Sanson a fortnight ago would indicate that the cost of the local deviation at Palmerston North would probably exceed that of the larger deviation which we are asking for. When addressing you the other day, on the occasion of the deputation meeting you, I reminded you that the Railway Department estimate the cost of running,a light train daily from Otaki to Wellington in the early morning, instead of from Paekakariki, at £12,000 a year. The distance between Otaki and Paekakariki is twenty (20) miles, and therefore not much longer than the distance saved on the Main Trunk line by tlffiLevin-Foxton-Marton deviation. If it is true, which I very much doubt, that it Avould cost £12,000 a year to run the light train that 1 have asked for along the dead level twenty miles between Otaki and Paekakariki, then the saving in haulage and wear and tear on the large number of trains, many of them very heavy ones, on the. seventeen miles reduced distance between Levin and Marton, should about pay the total estimated cost of the deviation in a year’s time. This seventeen miles is practically dead level, and would avoid the number of heavy grades which occur between Levin and Marton on the present ling, and save an hour in the time between Wellington and Auckland and Wellington and New Plymouth. Of the total distance of 3!) or 40 miles between Levin and Marton by the proposed deviation, six miles is already constructed between Foxton and Himatangi, and from the latter place the Sandon tramway formation runs towards Marton a further distance of seventeen miles.

“.Reverting to the improvements at Palmerston IsT. station, I may mention that I believe

numbers of railway men, who are quite capable of judging, are positive that the candying out of Mr Hiley’s scheme at Palmerston N. would easily meet the difficulties experienced there. “I hope that you will be able to furnish me witli a copy of Mr Hiley’s proposals, in order that I may make use of them at other meetings in advocacy of the LevinMarton deviation which are to be held presently.”