NEW RAIL DEVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26638, 8 December 1947, Page 9

NEW RAIL DEVIATION

WELLINGTON TO WANGANUI STEEP GRADES ELIMINATED P.A. WANGANUI, Dec. 7. The railway deviation south of Aramoho, from Okoia to Turakina, on the Wellington-Wanganui main line, was brought into operation to-night. The first passenger traffic over the new route was conveyed by the New Ply-mouth-Wellingtgn railcar, which made the journey smoothly. The new route assumed something of a national significance some years ago, when it was found that the concrete work in two long tunnels had been faulty, and the discovery resulted in the complete relining of the tunnels having to be undertaken. The deviation does away with some of the steepest grades in the North Island’s railway system over the Fordell, Wangaehu and Turikina banks. The route was surveyed in the days of the Coates Ministry, but was delayed because of the slump. It was then put into being by the present Government. Two long tunnels and one shorter one carry the new route along the Matarawa Valley and across the Wangaehu Valley into Turakina. The Ratana and the old Wangaehu, Fordell and Baker’s Crossing stations have been eliminated by the new line, which will mean a saving of 20 minutes’ travelling time between Wanganui and Wellington, in addition to a great saving in the coal or oil used for steaming over the old grades.