Donegal Annual / Bliainiris Thír Chonaill. Vol. 2, No. 2 (1952)

there is a f.ieet of tlo buses, in~ eluding six double-deckers. 'fr·~ administ:·ative offkcs oi the undcrtakin~ a:·e situated in Dt:T.\ at Pennyhurn, integrating road and rail ope:-ation. This is th2 original railway deJiot situated 0:1 the Northern boundary of the city. a facto~· which conL'iliuted to t.he popularity of the bus servic.es that reached the town eentre. Besides gal'aging and servicin_g most of Hie bus fleet and a la!',ge number of the goods vehiel-es in Der~·.v, there exists a well-equipped· workshc'P for major overhauls and running !'epairs o! all :·oad and rail· vehicles. With the exception of cran!\sltaft grinding, every proc·ess in the reconditioning of vehicles is car!·ied Ol~'. . There is a e:ood-sized garc.ge at Letterkenny and su!::-depots or dormy sheds at Buncrana, Carndonagh. Moville, Ramelton, Burtonport, Downings and Po:tsalon. In Derry {Great James Stre~t). a waiting-rcom. inquiry, lUggage, pa!·cels and took.ing offices are maintained. The Bunc;rana route. which is doubl·>. de~ked. leaves from the adjoining Patrick Stl'eet. On all the routes from Derry, tim:.: is allowed for customs examination and each bus ca:·ries a customs pass book for the sil(natures of 6lficials. Some few years ago the Company erected a magnificent building at Buncrana, where waiting rooms. wasl:-up ancl sanitary conveniences, as well as catering facilities, are provided for passengers. This is one of the most elaborate :public tranrn'Jr ~ buildings to be found anyv;hcre in proviucla l I relancl. The directors of ti:ie companj' arc Cul. Sir Basil McFarla·nrl, Bart., {chairman). Dr. .J. McCormick, Mr. .T. A. Piggot. :\fr. • T. '1'. M'Farland Hild Colonel .J. Mc:- Laug;hlin. Other officials ar:! Mr. S. H. Bell. acr.ountant, and Mr.. l. Armst!·cng. merhanirnl cngin· eer. and the!·e ar.e some 400;4l0 statf on the llnde"·taking. It is inte::estin1t to note that the remaining railway section of the undertakin!!' nrovided ahout 10 per cent. of the gross earnings, yet required ;33 'jler cent. of the total staff to operat~ it. Although the Lough Swjjjy company is relative!,\ sm'1ll compared with the nationalised 1?011cems on both sides of th.e Irish sea, it wou.ld appear that the much-tallo.ed-c-f integ:·atbh ui road and !·ail transport offe:·s possibiliHes if the prob!em is ap- :proached in a realistic way and that the operating o:·ganisation on the one hand and the corn· ·petent authority. whether it ·he the Gove!11ment. a co'.Tlm1ss :o n or C'xecutive on the oih.~r hand, .applies itself diligently to the pro.lilem of meeting public re- ·quirement.s e'ffectively te<ause in the final anu:ysis t-hat is what it amounts to. From the p-0int of view of histor~· it is interesting to record that when in 1903 King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra vlrited Ireland the royal party landed at Bunerana Pie:· and travelled to Derry on the Lough Swilly Railway. The Ro' al ', rain travelled right into the heart of the city, its distinguished passenge!·s..beini;: able to aligiit a!- most al the Guildhnll, centre or the {'jty':; dvi<' a1lm ini ~hnli on,

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQxNzU3