asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the uneasiness in that area of County Donegal which is at present served by the Letterkenny-Burtonport Railway, arising from reports that this line is to be closed down in the near future; and whether, in consideration of the facts that road freight charges are higher than rail freight charges, and that the roads will have to be remade from their foundations to take the extra traffic, he will take steps to prevent the abandonment of the railway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Donegal Railway Service.
On the application of the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company I made an Order in 1940 authorising the company to terminate the service of trains on the Burtonport-Letterkenny railway line. The Order was made on the grounds that the permanent way was becoming unsafe, that the railway had been operating at a heavy loss, and that the company were in a position to provide adequate alternative services. Subsequently, in view of the petrol shortage, a temporary arrangement was made to keep the line from Gweedore to Letterkenny open for goods traffic.
The company have recently represented to me that it is dangerous to continue to work the line having regard to its condition and to the difficulties involved in carrying out any effective repairs. They propose to substitute road services at the scale of road rates. which is applicable to their services throughout County Donegal. I have had the line inspected and the company's statement as to the risk of operation has been fully confirmed by the railway inspecting officer who reported the line to be in such condition as to make it unwise and unsafe to continue using it.
Certain reports that the condition of the road was such that it was unfitted for the carriage of extra traffic have also been examined. These reports were not well founded, and I am satisfied that the road, generally, is in reasonably good order. In these circumstances, I do not propose to interfere with the railway company in the action which they propose to take.