RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1938, Page 7

RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

PROMISE OF EXPEDITIOUS PROGRESS SECTION TO BE ELECTRIFIED STATEMENT BY MR SAVAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Amplifying his statement reported yesterday regarding the Government’s decision to proceed with the Rimutaka railway deviation by constructing a tunnel, 5 miles 18 chains in length, from Mangaroa to Cross Creek, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage states: — “It is estimated that the deviation will cost just under £1,000,000. In view of the fact that the deviation will have to be electrified, the cost of electrification of the line from Upper Hutt to Featherston is estimated at £215,000. It should be clearly understood, however, that these estimates are merely tentative. Final estimates will be prepared after the permanent survey of the deviation has been made.

“Much investigation has been undertaken into the question of the best way of avoiding the stiff climb over the Rimutakas for rail access into the Wairarapa from the capital city. Half-a-dozen different routes at least have been explored or surveyed in the past. The route that has been finally selected as the most suitable, both from the points of view of traffic and cost, is that known as the Mangaroa-Cross Creek tunnel route. This route will leave the existing railway about a mile beyond Mangaroa railway station, and after passing a short approach cutting, will enter a tunnel emerging just above the present Cross Creek station.

“The proposed deviation will shorten the distance between Wellington and the Wairarapa by eight miles. It,will reduce the summit level of the line from 1142 feet above sea level to 500 feet. It is anticipated that the deviation, besides enabling all passenger traffic and goods to be handled easily, will reduce the time required for the journey from Wellington to Masterton by at least an hour for steam trains.

LATER IMPROVEMENTS LIKELY.

“It appears certain, however, that the deviation will have to be electrified in order to eliminate the present discomfort of smoky tunnels. So far only preliminary surveys have been made, and it will be necessary to make a final survey over the steep and rocky range of the Rimutakas. Although this work will be difficult in dense bush country, it will be pushed on with the maximum rapidity. “The construction of this long tunnel is practically the only work necessary to complete the deviation, there being only a short length of line between the tunnel and the existing railway at each end. It may later on be necessary to improve the line between Upper Hutt and Mangaroa, and between Cross Creek and Pigeon Bush, as the grades on these sections are steeper than on the rest of the line, but it is considered that this will not be necessary for many years, as these sections will not in the meantime limit the traffic in any way. “The job is going to be done, and the approaches will be started pretty soon,” Mr Savage continued. “As a matter of fact, the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, told me that he could make a start with them almost right away. With the men and the machinery we have at our disposal, we will be able to revolutionise this undertaking, compared with the methods that were followed in the past.” IMPORTANCE OF TUNNEL. Mr Savage said that the tunnel, 'when it was put through, would be the means of tapping a very big and important district, which was at a considerable disadvantage at present. “The wonder to me is that they ever tried to get over the hill at all with a railway,” he added. “There is more to be done than to make figures to show whether the railways are paying or not. You have to take into consideration the areas to be tapped and the development of the country through which the railway passes. “They can say what they like about the railway system, but if a proper balance-sheet was made crediting the railways with the values for which they are directly responsible, there would be sufficient revenue to pay for the railways two or three times over. Instead of that, people bought and sold land and they got rich; and it was almost painted on the clouds that the railways were not paying. “We have set out not only to develop the railways, but also motor transport. We want the best form of service we can get, whatever it is, but most people would find little difficulty in imagining the disaster it would be to New Zealand if the railway system was stopped tomorrow morning.” ENGINEER’S REPORT. GOOD GRADE PROVIDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. In the course of a report on the deviation proposal fifteen years ago, the then Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, Mr F. W. Furkert, said if the tunnel line were constructed there would, be an increase in interest charges of between £40,000 and £45,000 a year, while there would be a saving to New Zealand of £45,000 made up as follows: —(1) Abolition of all expenses in connection with the incline, £27,500; (2) saving in maintenance of way, £4000; (3) saving due to eliminated curvature, £2000; (4) saving through lesser distance to haul, £12,000.

“The grades between Upper Hutt and Mangaroa,” said Mr Furkert, “can be brought to the same standard as the rest of the line with an expenditure of £78,680, and the grade between Cross Creek and Pigeon Bush can be eliminated at the cost of relaying culverts, because the greater part of the formation will be done by disturbing the spoil from the tunnel in such a way as to form a bank ... on a grade not steeper than 1 in 60 on the straights, and compensated proportionately on curves; and when it becomes necessary to relay the line through the wearing out of present rails and rotting of sleepers, the new work can be done on the new formation without any more cost, and probably without as much as would be necessitated by the ordinary relaying operations.” LONGEST TUNNELS. The proposed tunnel through the Rimutakas, 5 miles 18 chains, will be slightly shorter than the Otira Tunnel, which is 5 1-3 miles in length, the longest in the British Empire. The world’s longest tunnels are: Ben Nevis (pipeline for hydro-electric scheme), 15 miles; Tanna, Japan, 131 miles; Simplon, 12J miles; Apennines in new Florence-Bologna line, 111 miles; Loetschberg. 9.’ miles; St. Gothard, 9] miles; Mont Blanc (projected). 81 miles; Mont Ceris, 7J miles; Otira. 5 1-3 miles; Connaught (Canada). 5 miles; Hohe Taueru (Austria). 5 miles. SHACKLES STRUCK OFF MAYOR’S CONGRATULATIONS. Advice regarding Cabinet’s decision to construct the tunnel was received yesterday by the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, from the Prime Minister, who telegraphed as follow: — “With reference to representations submitted regarding the Rimutaka Railway deviation I desire to inform you that the question of proceeding with this work has been approved by Cabinet. (Sgd.) M. J. Savage." Mr Jordan replied this morning as follows: "Sincerest congratulations and thanks for decision that strikes shackles from this district.”