HC Deb 08 August 1898 vol 64 cc486-7
MR. MACALEESE

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade has he received any report, official or otherwise, of an accident which occurred on Tuesday last between Dundalk and Clones on the Great Northern Railway of Ireland; was it due to the defective brake system in use on this line that the engine and carriages refused to answer the check, and rushed through the station to the stop block, which they cut through, embedding themselves in an adjoining field; how many persons were injured in this accident; and are any of the injuries of a fatal kind; and will he make representations to this company which will ensure by them the use of proper appliances, so that the travelling public on their line may have some protection against accident?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. W. H.LONG,) Liverpool, West Derby

My right honourable Friend the President of the Board of Trade desires me to say that the Board of Trade have received a report from the company of the accident referred to; it seems that there was no failure of the automatic brake which was in use on the passenger portion of the train. The accident would appear to have arisen through the driver misjudging his distance and running too fast into, the station, without taking adequate precaution, having regard to the state of the rails, which were wet at the time. Two passengers are reported as having received slight bruises, and one as having hurt his hand by jumping from the train.

MR. MADDISON (Sheffield, Bright-side)

Can the right, honourable Gentleman say if this was a mixed train, carrying both passengers and goods?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

I am afraid I cannot answer without notice.