asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the withdrawal of the two-way afternoon railway service between Galway and Dublin seriously inconveniences travellers from Galway; and whether, in order to minimise these hardships, he will direct Córas Iompair Éireann to extend the 7.30 p.m. Westland Row to Athlone train to serve Galway.

I am informed by Córas Iompair Éireann that they have discontinued evening passenger trains on a number of lines including the Dublin-Galway line, for the winter months, because they need to conserve their stocks of coal for the carriage of beet, grain, fuel and other essential commodities. The evening train from Westland Row is run primarily for mails and perishable goods and the quantity of these traffics for Galway would not justify its operation beyond Athlone.