asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can give any technical information as to the saving of fuel on the railway system by increased speed mileage or reduced speed mileage.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Saving of Railway Fuel.
Mr. Larkin
I am informed that any increase in the speed of a train over and above the economic speed for which the locomotive was designed would require an increased rate of firing per square foot of grate area per hour. In order to make the best possible use of the inferior fuels available, the average speed of Great Southern Railways trains has been reduced since 1939 by approximately one-third in the case of passenger trains and one-fourth in the case of goods trains.
Mr. Larkin
Would the Minister permit a test to be made in the presence of one of his officers to prove that that statement is incorrect? Surely, in the interests of the company, if we can show a 25 per cent. economy by firing the boilers in the proper way, it should be encouraged.
Who informed the Minister that the speed of the Cork to Dublin train has been reduced?
I said the average speed.
Who said that the average speed had been reduced in the case of the Cork train from Ballybrophy? Let the Minister ask the Deputies behind him who travelled up from Cork.
A Deputy
The Minister did not say that.
He did, of course. You do not travel anyway.