Call for railway between Banbridge and Lurgan
THE matter of the construction of railway line which would connect the towns of Lurgan and Banbridge led one "respectable merchant" from Lurgan to pick up his pen and write to the News Letter this week in 1875 urging that the directors of the Banbridge extension railway to insert clauses into their Railway Extension Bill, which was then before Parliament, to allow for such a branch line to be built.
Opening their letter to the News Letter the correspondent praised the bill. They wrote: “I feel great pleasure in publicly expressing my satisfaction that your Railway Extension Bill is favourably progressing through the House of Commons and that there are good hopes that the project will be ultimately successful.”
But the focus of their letter soon turned to proposing a connecting branch line between Banbridge and Lurgan, which they believed made good economic sense.
“I now take this opportunity of offering a suggestion relative to a branch railway in connection with your line, which would connect two of the most important towns in Ulster, namely Lurgan and Banbridge, and considerably increase traffic on your line,” they wrote.
Reflecting on the importance of the area to the prosperity of Ulster the correspondent added: “The tract of country through which the branch line I suggest should pass is in one of the richest districts in the north of Ireland. It extends from the precincts of Banbridge to the verge of Lurgan.
“On one side lies the valley of the Bann, dotted over with bleaching establishments and spinning mills; on the other side the mills of Donacloney, and here and which are the seats of gentlemen and opulent merchants.
“This district is also the seat of the linen cambric handkerchief and damask manufactures, which has given Ulster the wealth of which it is justly proud. The land over which the line I propose would run is almost a continuous level from Lurgan station onward from Milltown, the seat of John Smyth Esq.”
The letter writer was convinced that the construction of a railway line between the two towns would be warmly welcomed not only by the merchants but also by tourists and travellers to the area.
“The merchants of Banbridge and Lurgan having large business transactions with the industrial establishments in the district have constantly to pass between Banbridge and Lurgan, and, though the distance is hardly seven miles, travellers wishing to reach either of these towns must go by the circuitous route of Lisburn and Dromara, or by Portadown and Scarva,” the correspondent stated.
“Now, the opening of the branch would be a boon of great value to the public, the traffic between Lurgan and Banbridge would be greatly extended, and the slow and cumbrous horse carriage be discontinued; and during the summer and harvest months, the line onward to Newcastle would be crowded by tourists going to the beautiful and healthy watering places at Newcastle.”
Concerns about purchasing land in the area to allow for the construction of the railway line would not be an issue in the opinion of the News Letter’s correspondent and they urged the directors of Banbridge extension railway to look at inserting clauses in the bill before Parliament.
“I may here state that the land in the district would be of easy purchase, as there are few freeholders to be interfered with. I hope, gentlemen, that you will give my suggestion earnest consideration, and that, if practicable, you will have clauses inserted in your bill empowering you to make the proposed branch.
“If, however, the insertion of clauses would not be convenient, a company could be formed to make the proposed branch, which I am confident will be the best feeder of your line.”
The paper’s correspondent concluded: “I am fully convinced that the gentlemen of Lurgan, Waringstown, Donacloney, Gilford, Banbridge, Castlewellan and Newcastle would warmly support the project. It would be in their interest to do so, as it would give them short, rapid and direct communication with the very places where the greater bulk of the business lies. I earnestly hope, gentlemen, that you will pay earnest attention to my proposition; and that ultimate success may crown your laudable efforts to extend railway communication.”
The News Letter supported the correspondent’s proposed railway line between Banbridge and Lurgan, but the paper urged that the people of the district should combine their efforts to pressurise those who were advocating the extension bill at Parliament of the demand for such a branch line.
The News Letter remarked: “There is no doubt of it, and the wonder is that the connecting link has not been supplied long ago. But why do not the traders of Lurgan and Banbridge, and all others concerned, hold public meetings and discuss the subject? The gods help those who help themselves; and we are confident the directors appealed to by our correspondent, or the directors of the Ulster line, would soon act if they saw it was in their interest to do so.”
Concluding its comment on the matter the News Letter remarked: “In these days of quick travelling it is unfair to send men of business round the world for sport, when a comparatively trifling outlay would enable them save time and money, and afford them a direct route to the place they might be obliged to visit. Lurgan and Banbridge ought to have direct communication by a short railway such as is proposed, and if the enterprising people of both towns go about it as they ought they will very soon get all they require.”
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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