SPEEDING UP TRAFFIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 621, 25 March 1929, Page 1

SPEEDING UP TRAFFIC

WORK ON FRANKTONHOROTIU DUPLICATION OPENING IN TWO MONTHS Within the next six weeks or two months trains will be running over the railway duplication between Horotiu and Frankton Junction. The new work will relieve congestion of this particular section of the Auckland-Frankton Junction line and delays to trains should be less frequent. The whole of the plate-laying has been finished on the seven miles of new line and only the last of the ballasting has to be done. One work train is carrying sand from Ngaruawahia to the sections south of T’e Rapa and after Easter another train will carry scoria from Wiri to top off the Ijermanent way. Alterations which were necessary at the Te Rapa and Horotiu stations have been completed without any difficulty. A new' crossing-siding between Ohinewai and Huntly is complete and ready lor opening and the earthwork has been completed on similar siding between Mercer and AVhanga marine. These crossings will enable trains to pass without any loss of time and it will be possible for the fast passenger trains to make an unhindered run from Frankton Junction to Auckland. The duplication of the whole line between Auckland and Frankton Junction has been necessary for some time because of the rapidly increasing amount of traffic which uses it. Now that the East Coast line is open the volume has still further increased. At rush times, and particularly at this time of the year, when large quantities of goods and manures are on the move, the duplication would be of great value. During the last month there has been frequent hold-ups of trains because others were late in reaching the crossings. However, much of this trouble will go when the new sifetor is opened for traffic.