asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that great inconvenience is caused to people in Tipperary town and the surrounding districts by reason of the fact that the 6.30 p.m. train from Kingsbridge does not stop at Limerick Junction; and, if so, whether he will take the matter up with Córas Iompair Éireann at an early date with a view to providing a solution to the problem.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Train Facilities and Tipperary Town.
Córas Iompair Éireann have been concerned with the need for providing faster train services between Dublin and Cork and with a view to improving the position they have introduced into the summer time-table a train which is scheduled to leave Kingsbridge Station at 6.30 p.m. and arrive in Cork at 10.40 p.m. This represents a considerable improvement on the services they have been providing since the emergency and it has involved reducing the stops en route to two—Thurles and Mallow I think it is in the public interest that fast train services should be provided and I would be reluctant to suggest to Córas Iompair Éireann that they should consider any action which would have the result of adding to the time taken by train service between the two principal traffic points in their system.
Despite the fact that there is a train leaving Dublin at 6.30, there is no connection given between Limerick Junction and Cork. In prewar days, the train did stop there, and I see no reason why it should not stop now.
Having regard to the noted reluctance of Cork people to go back to Cork from Dublin, this train provides only two stops, namely, at Thurles and Mallow. It was always customary for this train to stop at the Junction and I think that if it were to make a stop there now in order to facilitate Tipperary and Limerick people Cork men would not object to the few extra minutes which a stop at the Junction would mean since, as I have said, the train used always stop there.