RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2828, 30 December 1924, Page 2

RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT.

PALMERSTON DEVIATION A NECESSITY. LE VIN - MART ON ROUTE COMMENDED. The report of the British Railway Commissioners was made available for publication on Boxing Day. It consists, in addition to maps, plans and appendices of 67 pages of foolscap printed matter and contains many important recommendations. Reference to the Levin-Marton deviation as an alternative to the Palmerston N. deviation is of particular interest to this district, in view of the efforts of the League to have this matter reported upon.by the Commissioners. The following is the Commissioner's report:— “Palmerston North deviation and the new station and yards are a necessity of traffic operation to-day. Congestion, with its consequent cost over and above the normal, is evident day by day, and during busier seasons it must obviously he far worse tli,-in it is at the time we are writing. It should without doubt be relieved as soon as possible. In this connection we may refer to the Levin and Marlon new line, advocated as an alternative to some extent for expenditure at I’nlmerston N. Even if a direct line be made between Levin and Marion, the necessity for a complete realignment and extension at the former place would still obtain. If no railways existed in New Zealand and it were desired to construct, a direct line between Wellington and Auckland, it is more than probable that the Levin-Marton route would be chosen, tint, unfortunately for the advocuics of the new route, the lines centering upon Palmerston N. do exist and must so continue, and be provided with train services not only for the district immediately adjacent to Palmerston N. hut, also as a junction point for traffic east (Hawke’s Bay line) to and from south, north, and west, as well as the Wairarapa line to and from the same districts. The route from Levin to Mart on does not, apart from bridges, offer any physical or costly difficulties of construction, and the district is a good one from an agricultural point of view, hut' the fact remains that two railways will have to he maintained and worked when this line is const nich'd. The time will conic, no doubt, when a doubling of Main Trunk lines will have to be considered seriously, and then it will probably be found desirable to relieve 1 lie Palmerston N. route by an alternative north and south line between Levin and Marton.”