“UNDERGROUND” FOR AUCKLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 29, 27 April 1927, Page 12

“UNDERGROUND” FOR AUCKLAND

NEW NORTH RAILWAY NEXT BIG SCHEME SAVING IN HAULAGE The Railway Department’s plans for the construction of Auckland’s proposed northern railway outlet were outlined yesterday by Mr. E. Casey, divisional superintendent of railways, at a luncheon of the Karangahape Road Business Promotion Society. By means of plans Mr. Casey showed that the new route from Auckland to Morningside, which was only 2\ miles, as compared with five miles by the existing line, would effect an enormous saving in haulage costs on the present system. The single track tfy way of Newmarket and Mount Eden is inefficient, and a satisfactory service to the northern suburbs is not practicable under the present arrangement on account of the heavy grades and the bottle-neck at Newmarket. Mount Eden station is 230 ft above sea level, involving a grade of 1 in 40. The new route provides for a maximum gradient of only 1 in 100, as the highest point on the line is 100 ft above sea level. Accordingly, a given load could be hauled on the new line with about one-third the tractive effort nowrequired on the Auckland-Mount Eden loop. It is intended to duplicate and electrify the new system, thereby ensuring a fast and efficient service. ADDITIONAL STATION MOOTED The plans of the department announced in the 1924 public works programme provide for a station at a point lying between Wellesley Street and Upper Queen Street in the vicinity of the Town Hall. Mr. Casey stated that the station referred to was the only one actually included in the proposal, but that another station in the Archhill gully had been advocated, although not shown in the plan. This station would be located near Cecil Street, off Newton Road. The tunnel entering the hill at the Town Hall station will emerge at the Cecil Street station, which will be a short distance from the Ponsonby reservoir. WHEN WORK WILL BEGIN The scheme is to be put in hand bn the completion of the Westfield deviation and the new Auckland station. The Government is heavily involved in connection with these works, but the intention is to proceed with the tunnel under the city immediately the more pressing scheme now in progress has been completed.