Vol. 408 No. 4
34 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if wooden framed carriages which have been found in the past to have been inferior to steel framed carriages in regard to safety are being used on rail lines; when it is intended to replace these carriages and bring them up to an acceptable safety standard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It has previously been agreed with CIE that pending their replacement, woodenbodied carriages would continue to be used in service only on lines with light traffic and where maximum speeds did not exceed 50mph.
The chairman of CIE has advised me that Irish Rail are taking all steps possible to expedite the complete removal of wooden bodied carriages from the railway system and that, in the meantime, operational standards for these carriages are carefully monitored to ensure that they are safe at all times for passenger operations.
