diff --git a/include/geometry.hpp b/include/geometry.hpp
index cbce21d78..429d8a200 100644
--- a/include/geometry.hpp
+++ b/include/geometry.hpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ namespace mapnik
 	virtual unsigned num_points() const = 0;
 	virtual unsigned vertex(double* x, double* y)=0;
 	virtual void rewind(unsigned )=0;
+	virtual void set_capacity(size_t size)=0;
 	virtual ~geometry() {}
     };
     
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@ namespace mapnik
 	{
 	    return false;
 	}
+	void set_capacity(size_t) {}
 	virtual ~point() {}
     };
 
@@ -216,6 +218,10 @@ namespace mapnik
 	{	    
 	    return false;
 	} 
+	void set_capacity(size_t size) 
+	{
+	    cont_.set_capacity(size);
+	}
 	virtual ~polygon() {}
     };
     
@@ -332,12 +338,17 @@ namespace mapnik
 	{	    
 	    return false;
 	} 
+	
+	void set_capacity(size_t size) 
+	{
+	    cont_.set_capacity(size);
+	}
 	virtual ~line_string() {}
     };
 
     typedef point<vertex2d> point_impl;
-    typedef line_string<vertex2d,vertex_vector> line_string_impl;
-    typedef polygon<vertex2d,vertex_vector> polygon_impl;
+    typedef line_string<vertex2d,vertex_vector2> line_string_impl;
+    typedef polygon<vertex2d,vertex_vector2> polygon_impl;
     
     typedef geometry<vertex2d> geometry_type;
     typedef boost::shared_ptr<geometry_type> geometry_ptr;
diff --git a/include/vertex_vector.hpp b/include/vertex_vector.hpp
index 6944d8458..700b5ba98 100644
--- a/include/vertex_vector.hpp
+++ b/include/vertex_vector.hpp
@@ -115,7 +115,10 @@ namespace mapnik
 	    ++vertex;
 	    t.forward_y(vertex);
 	}
-	
+	void set_capacity(size_t)
+	{
+	    //do nothing
+	}
     private:
 	void allocate_block(unsigned block)
 	{
@@ -143,9 +146,8 @@ namespace mapnik
     struct vertex_vector2 : boost::noncopyable
     {
 	typedef typename T::type value_type;
-	typedef boost::tuple<value_type,value_type,char> coord;
+	typedef boost::tuple<value_type,value_type,char> vertex_type;
 	vertex_vector2() {}
-	
 	unsigned size() const 
 	{
 	    return cont_.size();
@@ -153,27 +155,30 @@ namespace mapnik
 
 	void push_back (value_type x,value_type y,unsigned command)
 	{
-	    cont_.push_back(coord(x,y,command));
+	    cont_.push_back(vertex_type(x,y,command));
 	}
 	unsigned get_vertex(unsigned pos,value_type* x,value_type* y) const
 	{
 	    if (pos >= cont_.size()) return SEG_END;
-	    coord const& c = cont_[pos];
+	    vertex_type const& c = cont_[pos];
 	    *x = boost::get<0>(c);
 	    *y = boost::get<1>(c);
 	    return boost::get<2>(c);
 	}
-
+	
 	void transform_at(unsigned pos,const CoordTransform& t)
 	{
 	    if (pos >= cont_.size()) return;
-	    coord & c = cont_[pos];
+	    vertex_type & c = cont_[pos];
 	    t.forward_x(&boost::get<0>(c));
 	    t.forward_y(&boost::get<1>(c));
 	}
-	
+	void set_capacity(size_t size)
+	{
+	    cont_.reserve(size);
+	}
     private:
-	std::vector<coord> cont_;
+	std::vector<vertex_type> cont_;
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp b/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp
index 55961c42d..269b24a4d 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/shape_io.cpp
@@ -92,9 +92,10 @@ geometry_ptr shape_io::read_polyline()
     int num_parts=record.read_ndr_integer();
     int num_points=record.read_ndr_integer();
     geometry_ptr line(new line_string_impl(-1));
-    
+    line->set_capacity(num_points + num_parts);
     if (num_parts == 1)
     {
+	line->set_capacity(num_points + 1);
 	record.skip(4);
 	double x=record.read_double();
 	double y=record.read_double();
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ geometry_ptr shape_io::read_polylinem()
     int num_parts=record.read_ndr_integer();
     int num_points=record.read_ndr_integer();
     geometry_ptr line(new line_string_impl(-1));
-    
+    line->set_capacity(num_points + num_parts);
     if (num_parts == 1)
     {
 	record.skip(4);
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ geometry_ptr shape_io::read_polylinez()
     int num_parts=record.read_ndr_integer();
     int num_points=record.read_ndr_integer();
     geometry_ptr line(new line_string_impl(-1));
-    
+    line->set_capacity(num_points + num_parts);
     if (num_parts == 1)
     {
 	record.skip(4);
@@ -277,7 +278,7 @@ geometry_ptr shape_io::read_polygon()
     int num_points=record.read_ndr_integer();
     std::vector<int> parts(num_parts);
     geometry_ptr poly(new polygon_impl(-1));
-    
+    poly->set_capacity(num_points + num_parts);
     for (int i=0;i<num_parts;++i)
     {
         parts[i]=record.read_ndr_integer();
@@ -317,7 +318,7 @@ geometry_ptr shape_io::read_polygonm()
     int num_points=record.read_ndr_integer();
     std::vector<int> parts(num_parts);
     geometry_ptr poly(new polygon_impl(-1));
-    
+    poly->set_capacity(num_points + num_parts);
     for (int i=0;i<num_parts;++i)
     {
         parts[i]=record.read_ndr_integer();
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@ geometry_ptr shape_io::read_polygonz()
     int num_points=record.read_ndr_integer();
     std::vector<int> parts(num_parts);
     geometry_ptr poly(new polygon_impl(-1));
-    
+    poly->set_capacity(num_points + num_parts);
     for (int i=0;i<num_parts;++i)
     {
         parts[i]=record.read_ndr_integer();