REPORT ON RAILWAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1059, 25 August 1930, Page 10

REPORT ON RAILWAYS

EXTENSION LINES UNDER CONSTRUCTION WILL LOSE £737,500 THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Saturday. A dismal picture of unprofitable railway extensions, construction of which is now in progress all over New Zealand, is drawn in a return promised by the Government last session, and presented to the House of Representatives last evening. Tire seven lines now being built, totalling 342 miles, will result in an annual loss of £737,553. allowing for interest and operating losses. Detailed reports upon works in progress show that up to June 30 £6.465,350 has been spent out of an estimated total cost of £13,631,000. . . Anticipated results are shown in tne following summary, which comprises estimated gross revenue and working expenses, and the operating loss or profit with, in each case, the interest charge on capital cost and the total estimated annual loss: OperEx- atingRevenue. penses. boss Okaihau-Eangiahua 7.000 8,090 1,000 Interest and loss 04,000 3d,uuu KlrUjopunhDarga- I>l7o Interest and loss 25,500 26,070 Gisborne-Eskdale . 00.876 100,409 j Interest and loss 243,u00 *.8.,,100 j Okahukura-Tahora Interest and loss 112,950 10-,6ai* . South Island M.T. 112,300 77,140 30,160* j Interest and loss 135.160 IOO.O'JO j Westport-Inangahua 43,000 36,000 7,000 j Interest and loss 43,850 -6.800 1 Kawatiri-Inangahua 38,200 48.500 10,600 • Interest and loss 92,650 103,250 \ •"Estimated profit on working. The total estimated revenue is j £270,376 and the expenses £320.263. j leaving a loss of £49,893. With the | addition of £687,660 interest charges; the annual loss is £737,553. PROGRESS OF SECTIONS The Government gives a progress re- 1 turn of the lines now being pushed ahead. Starting with North Auckland lines, the following information is given: North Auckland Main trunk railway, Okaihau-Rangiahua extension <l4 miles 9 chains). Extension from Otiria to Okaihau <24 miles 42 chains). It is constructed through the most treacherous piece of country on which railway construction has been undertaken in New Zealand. Rails have been laid for 10 miles. The. line may be expected to give operating results very similar to the Otiria-Okaihau section. Dargaville branch, final section. Kiri-kopuni-Dargaville <l7 miles 49 chains). This is the uncompleted portion of the Waiotira-Dargaville line. The Tangowahine section (10} miles) is practically complete and goods traffic is being conveyed over it. On the Dargaville section (7} miles) formation is complete for 5« miles and plate-laying for two miles. Xapier-Gisborne railway. EskdaleGisborne (120 miles 39 chains). The line between Eskdale and Putorino (26 2-3 miles) is just about ready f6r opening. Two large viaducts have yet ' to be built, one of which (Maungaturanga) will be complete in 15 months, and the other (Mohaka) about 15 j months later. These works are the j chief factor in the completion of the j line, which should, therefore, be ready for opening from Putorino to Wairoa in about two years and a-half. Stratford Main Trunk railway, Oka-hukura-Tahora section (41 miles 40 chains). This section is the final link in the Stratford main trunk connection. At the western end. 3 miles 30 chains between Tahora and Tangarakau should be ready for opening about January, 1931. Of the remaining 4 miles 50 chains at the western end, 50 per cent, is tunnel. Two tunnels have been completed, a third is more than half done and the fourth and last tunnel has the bottom heading well under way. The line has been completed between Okahukura and Ohura (19 miles 10 chains), and traffic has been carried over it by the Public Works Department for some time. Beyond Ohura the rails have been laid for 3? miles. There •are five tunnels, aggregating 95 chains in lengthy of which 46 chains have been completed. Formation has also been completed except for about 70 chains of heavy work. Several bridges have yet' to be built. SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK South Island Main Trunk railway, Wharanui - Parnassus section (76 miles). At the northern end. four miles of formation were completed several years ago. An additional length of eight miles is now in progress, and arrangements are being made to start work on a 27-chains tunnel under the Hawkswood Saddle. The estimated revenue is based on the assumption that 60,000 passengers per annum will travel between Wellington and Christchurch by the new route in preference to the WellingtonLyttelton route. Tlxe Westport-Inangahua railway (26 miles) will connect the' Westport section with the South Island main lines. The line is completed between Westport and Cascade station (nine miles) and traffic is being carried by the Public Works Department. Beyond Cascade, formation is in hand for 12 miles, of which 6£ miles have been completed. The rails have been laid for 75 chains beyond Cascade. Bushfelling and clearing have been done well ahead of the formation work. At the Inangahua end work has been started on the formation between Inangahua and the Buller River. Midland railway. Kawatiri-Inanga-hua section (46 miles 43 chains). When completed this section will link up the Nelson section with the South Islaifd main lines. The line is practically complete between Kawatiri and Go wan (3 miles 73 chains). Beyond Gowan formation is in hand for eight miles, of which 4Z miles have been completed.