§ 88. Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Postmaster-General whether on Saturday morning, the 21st instant, the day mail from Dublin to Cork, notwithstanding very unfavourable weather in the. Channel, reached Kingsbridge Station at 7 a.m. and only started from that station at 7.35 a.m.; and whether he will explain why such delay takes place at Kingsbridge?
The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Pike Pease)According to Post Office records the mail train reached Kingsbridge on the 21st October at 7.6 a.m.—nineteen minutes late. This was an advance of the average time of arrival during the month. About twenty minutes is required at Kingsbridge for railway and mail purposes. The mail train for the South left at 7.35 a.m. in accordance with the revised time table.
§ Mr. HEALYCan the hon. Gentleman say how twenty minutes or half-an-hour is occupied at Kingsbridge when there has already been that delay at Kingstown after the arrival of the mail?
Mr. PIKE PEASEThe train from Kingstown Pier is a composite one, and is made up of several sections: (1) Dublin and South-Eastern van with mails; this is detached from the train at Westland Row. (2) Midland Great Western carriages; these are detached at Amiens Street Station; and so on.
§ Mr. HEALYMay I suggest to the hon. Gentleman that he is mistaken, and is he aware that the Kingstown train starts in different sections from there?