BIG SLIP ON MAIN TRUNK

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 107, 27 July 1927, Page 1

BIG SLIP ON MAIN TRUNK

train services disorganised MAY TAKE TWO DAYS TO CLEAR A FALL of earth in the Karaka cutting, estimated at 5,000 cubic yards, has completely blocked the Main Trunk line. .. , , Belief gangs are working from both ends of the slip, out it is estimated that it will be two days before the cutting is clear for traffic again. The slip was not unexpected. Linesmen have been watching the cutting for some days. The fall occurred at 4 o’clock this morning and all stations were warned immediately.

A COMPLETE emergency time-table has been organised and passengers are being transhipped at the slip and connected with relief trains running north and south. The Karaka Cutting is between Karaka Siding and Paerata, south of Drury, and 25 miles from Auckland. The first relief train arrived in Auckland this morning at 10.15 o’clock, carrying passengers and mails from the first express from Wellington, due at Auckland at 6.30 o’clock. A combined Thames-Rotorua train left Auckland this morning at 10.30 o’clock. After the passengers got over the slip they were carried to Frankton Junction, where they boarded their proper trains. A relief train, with Mr. J. K. Lowe, district engineer for Auckland, in charge, left for the slip this morning early. Passengers on the first train this morning stated that it took two hours to get everything across the slip. Boots and shoes, heavily coated with clay, showed that the passengers had spent a busy time clambering across the slip. A fall of rain added to their discomfort. One of the pas-

sengers said there was a distance of 400 yards to walk from train to train, hut the going was not heavy. Railway officials carried the luggage and malls across, their number being augmented by surfacemen from the surrounding districts and from Frankton Junction. Until the slip is cleared trains will run as far as Drury and Karaka, picking up the passengers at either end. As far as is possible the trains will run to their ordinary time-tables, but some delay is certain. A motor-bus service has been organised to tranship the passengers when they disembark at Druty and Paerata respectively, and is carrying them to their trains at either end of the blocked line. This is the third time a slip has blocked the Karaka Cutting. On one previous occasion it took three da> s to clear the line again. It was stated by a passenger on the first train this morning that the whole of one side of the cutting had fallen against the other side. The recent heavy rains have soaked the earth 1 ' until it was forced down.