RAILWAY DEVIATIONS SETTLED.

Shannon News, 26 February 1924, Page 4

RAILWAY DEVIATIONS SETTLED.

PAEKAKAEIKI, TAW A PLAT AND BIMUTAKAS. LEVEL LINES TO NAPIER AND NEW PLYMOUTH. Routes arc now practically settled for the three railway deviations—the Riinutakas, Tawa Flat and Paekakariki—which will provide a level lino from Wellington to Napi(3i- on the one side, and from Wellington to New ..Plymouth on the other, while effecting also an immense improvement in the Main Trunk line to Auckland. Mr W H. Field, M.P., when asked by the Dominion for information in regard to the projected routes for the railways deviation referred to in the Public Works Statement, made an interesting statement on the subject. "I have no. official knowledge," said Mr. Field*, "but, from information I have been able to glean, I judge that the deviations and the positions of the tunnels on the Rimutakas, Tawa Flat, and Paekakariki deviations have been practically settled. The Rimutakas.

"The Rimutakas deviation will, I think, begin at the Upper Hutt, with an easy grade, to take the place of the present steep 1 in 33 grade to the Mungaroa .Valley, following along the slopes of the hills on the eastern slopes of the Hutt Valley immediately behind the properties of Messrs Clifford Brothers and Mrs. E. B. Brown, to a point which would enable to be reached by tunnel the flat of the Mungaroa Valley, by practically a level, line. Then the route will pick up the present line, and the main Riniutaka tunnel will enter the mountain at a point about a mile and a-half north of the present Mungaroa railway station, coming out low down at Cross Creek—-a distance of rather more than five miles. Thence the route will follow the Cross Creek Valley picking up the present Wairarapa line on the Wairarapa Plain. Tawa Flat.

"The so-called Tawa Flat deviation will probably consist of a gradual elevation of the present Hutt line, so as to cross the Hutt Road at a point south of Ngahauranga, thence tunnelling into the Ngahauranga Gorge and following the Wakefield Gully as far as possible, thencp, after a tunnel of 2i miles, coining out into the open at .a point near the confluence of the Viaduct Gully stream with the main Porirua stream. The line will then follow the valley on the pastern side, and pick up the present Manawatu line on the level between Tawa Flat and Porirua. Paekakariki. "The Paekakariki deviation will, not follow the coast-line, from Plimmprton to Paekakariki, as originally intended, but will leave the present line near Plimmerton, passing by„the east side of the valley as far as possible, thpn by a tunnel, approximately below the present Pukerua Bay railway station, to the coast, thence following the coast, and picking up the present line on the level, south of Paekakariki." Rimutaka Tunnel.

The Rimutaka tunnel, from Mungaroa to Cross Creek, will cost about £875,000, according to the report of the cngineer-in-chicf. It will be on an easy grade, so that no electrification will be required, as was necessary on the very steep grades, Avith a slightly longer tunnel, at Arthur's Pass. The tunnel will not eliminate all the heavy grades between Upper Hutt and Featherston, but it will cut out the worst portion of the line, both as regards grades and curves. It will not result in the loss of any appreciable traffic, the only station cut off being Kaitoke, the business of which is regarded by the engineer-in-chicf as of no consequence. A further advantage of the tunnel is that the whole of the expensive staff, material and attendant working expenses at Cross Creek, can be eliminated. The grade of the tunnel will be 1 in 13:3 —in other words, so flat that it "will have no influence in limiting the loads which may be carried between Wellington and the Wairarapa, and vice versa. The summit-level will be not more than 500 feet above the sea. The journey to Masterton will be reduced by 40 minutes, and the return journey to Wellington by an hour. Cross Creek , station can bo entirely closed. Advantages and Cost. The distance from Wellington to Woodville will be reduced by 62 miles. The cost of maintenance between Cross Creek and Mungaroa will be reduced, it is estimated officially, from £350 per mile to £2OO per mile. The increase of about £-J 2,500 per annum will be offset by a saving of £45,000 per annum on the abolition of all expenses in connection with the incline, saving in maintenance of the permanent way, saving due to eliminated curvature and lesser hauling distance. The estimated cost of the tunnel-line, the HuttMungaroa deviation and the Cross Creek-Pigeon Bush relocation, totals £973,000.