§ MR. MCKILLOP (Armagh, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that delay and inconvenience have been caused to the public by the action of the Great Northern Railway in keeping the gates of the level crossing at Poyntzpass, county Armagh, closed to the public from ten to fifteen minutes at a time whilst goods trains are shunting; if he will direct the company to erect a footbridge at the end of the platform so as to allow foot passengers to cross the line whilst the trains are shunting; and if he can state what is the time allowed to the company for closing up the county road, as the action of the company in this matter has become a public nuisance.
§ MR. KEARLEYThe Board of Trade have communicated with the railway company on the subject of the hon. Member's complaint and have received a reply of which I am sending him a copy. The Board of Trade have no power to require the construction of a footbridge at this crossing.
§ The following is the reply referred to:—
§ [COPY.]
§ Great Northern Railway Co, (Ireland),
§ General Manager's Office,
§ London.
§ 8th June, 1907.
§ SIR,
§ In answer to your favour (R7187) of the 6th instant, enclosing copy of a Question which Mr. McKillop proposes to ask in the House of Commons on 10th instant regarding the level crossing at Poyntzpass station, I beg to say that every possible measure is taken by the company to prevent any undue delay at this crossing. There are only two goods trains stopping at Poyntzpass during the daytime (one in each direction), and I enclose copy of an instruction that is in force regulating the work at the station in connection with these trains. Our station master informs me that the crossing gates are never closed for more than four or five minutes at a time, and L have never received a complaint of undue delay having been experienced by the public.
§ I am, etc.,
§ (Signed) HENRY PLEWS,
§ General Manager.
§ The Assistant Secretary
§ (Railway Department),
§ Board of Trade, London.
§ WORKING TIME TABLE JUNE, 1907.
§ Level Crossing, Poyntzpass Station.
§ Down goods trains having shunting operations to perform at Poyntzpass station must come to a stand outside the down home signal. The train then to be divided for the purpose of detaching and attaching as required, and the front portion drawn forward clear of the level crossing, which must then be opened for the passage of public traffic. When the shunting operations have been completed the train to be joined up. It must be the special care of all concerned that the shunting operations are so conducted that there will be no danger of the vehicles being shunted coming in contact with the gates. The guard of the train before dividing same must see that the brake is "hard on" on rear van.