The Great Western Railway in England has established a new office at 123 George Street, due to the expansion of cross-channel trade that the premises at the railway terminus were unable to accommodate. This move comes ahead of the upcoming opening of a new fast route to England via Rosslare and Fishguard in July. This development is expected to significantly boost business activity, and the central location of the new office in the city was deemed highly desirable. The newly acquired space was formerly occupied by Messrs O’Connor & Co.
The freshly inaugurated offices are not only spacious but also inviting in design. The Great Western Railway boasts the distinction of being the longest railway line in the United Kingdom, spanning 2,700 miles. The anticipated launch of the new route promises to transform the means of travel between the South of Ireland and London and the South of England, for both passengers and cargo. Travel will become so expedient that a person starting their day with breakfast in Limerick could feasibly find themselves in London by supper time.
The proposed schedule for the new route envisions the steamship departing Rosslare around noon and completing the journey to Fishguard within three hours. The connecting train would leave Limerick between 8 and 9 a.m. Considering the projected six-hour journey from Fishguard to London, travelers could expect to arrive in London around 9 p.m. The route will be served by three newly constructed steamers designed on the turbine principle, fittingly named St. Patrick, St. George, and St. David.
It’s noteworthy that all contracts, materials, and furnishings for the Company’s offices across Ireland were sourced from local Irish businesses and were of Irish manufacture. The contracting work for the Limerick office was undertaken by Mr Daniel O’Sullivan, while the painting and decorative aspects were executed by Messrs Hodkinson and Sons.
The new office is poised to cater to the needs of Limerick’s traveling public. Heading the Limerick district operations is Mr J.A. O’Kelly, a Limerick native who received his railway education in the city as a clerk and later at the Company’s offices in Paddington. His expertise and courtesy make him a reliable and approachable point of contact. Tickets for various routes, including via Waterford and New Milford, as well as via Dublin and Holyhead, are available at the local office. Additionally, the office accepts parcels for dispatch to various parts of England.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 12 December 1905
