To ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the people of Athlone, Moate, Streamstown and Castletown for the want of proper train service, as the first train leaves Athlone (Midland Station) at 11.30 a.m. for Dubln, and arrives at Broadstone at 2.10 p.m., and the last train leaves Broadstone for Athlone at 2.30 p.m.; and further, as the above services prevent the people of the towns in question from travelling to and from Dublin the same day will he interview the Manager of the M.G.W.R., with a view to facilitating the people by having the train that leaves Mullingar at 9 o'clock, a.m., to start from Athlone at 8 o'clock, a.m., stopping for passengers at the above towns, and the train that leaves Broadstone at 6 o'clock p.m. for Mullingar to go to Athlone, stopping at the stations of the towns mentioned?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - TRAIN SERVICE TO MIDLANDS.
SEAN O LAIDHIN
I have been in communication on this matter with the Midland Great Western Railway Company, who inform me that in addition to the trains on its line mentioned in the question there is a train on the Great Southern and Western Railway from Athlone at 8.10 a.m., arriving in Kingsbridge at 10.55 a.m., and a train from Kingsbridge at 4.15 p.m., arriving in Athlone at 6.53 p.m. The Midland Great Western Company does not consider there is any necessity for two trains from Athlone at practically the same hour and states that as the result of careful inquiries it has come to the conclusion that the traffic at the stations between Athlone and Mullingar would not justify the extra service asked for.
For the town of Moate there is only one train up and one train down each day, and I would like if the Minister would again interview the Manager of the Railway Company with a view to getting a better train service so as to facilitate the townspeople there.
All right.