§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Chief Secretary if he can say whether the Board of Works have received proposals from the Joint Committee of the Great Northern (Ireland) and Midland Railways relative to the provision of an additional train on the Burtonport Extension Railway in connection with the cross-Channel service and early morning trains from Dublin and Belfast viâ Raphoe; whether the joint companies have offered to contribute towards the cost; whether the Lough Swilly Railway Company still refuses to-agree to the proposal, and further refuses to accept the establishment of through rates for traffic viâ Raphoe; and whether the Board of Works will take steps in the matter, in accordance with Sections 13 and 14 of Schedule D to the Tramways Order in Council (Ireland), Londonderry, and Lough Swilly (Letterkenny to Burton-port Extension) Railway Confirmation Act, 1898?
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§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe replies to the first three parts of the question are in the affirmative. The Lough Swilly Company were unable to accept the proposals because the proposed train service could not in existing circumstances be fitted in without seriously dislocating their present traffic arrangements, and because they considered that the proposed contribution towards the cost of the additional train would have left them with a considerable deficit to face. The company have also refused to agree to through ratesviâ Raphoe unless they are made applicable viâ Londonderry. The Board of Works have recently suggested to the Joint Committee to arrange a conference with the companies interested to settle the matter. In reply to the last part of the question, the Board, in view of the company's reasons for not running an additional train, do not propose to take steps under Section 13, schedule D to the Tramways Order in Council, and they will not take any steps under Section 14 pending the issue of their proposal for a joint conference.