Irish Rail passengers call for return of tea-trolley

Frustrated passengers on Irish Rail are actively campaigning for the reinstatement of onboard catering services, which have been absent since their suspension in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of amenities means travelers on many intercity routes endure journeys of up to three and a half hours without access to refreshments.

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You're three and a half hours without a drink or without access to anything.

Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove, a frequent train user, is spearheading the campaign, highlighting the inconvenience for passengers who may board trains early in the morning or late at night when shops are closed. "You're three and a half hours without a drink or without access to anything," she stated. Cosgrove's social media initiative, distributing free water and snacks, gained significant traction, drawing numerous messages of support from passengers across the country.

Barry Kenny, a spokesperson for Irish Rail, acknowledged the demand but explained the current limitations. Catering services are presently available only on the Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast routes. He cited dramatically escalated post-Covid costs and available funding as constraints. "We've been out to the market several times on this; the costs post-Covid frankly escalated dramatically, and that is what we can cover at the moment," Kenny said.

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We've been out to the market several times on this; the costs post-Covid frankly escalated dramatically, and that is what we can cover at the moment.

Irish Rail is actively seeking "innovative solutions" and exploring alternatives, including engaging with existing providers and new market entrants to find commercially viable options for expanding catering services. Seán Canney, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, stated that all options are being considered, including the possibility of onboard dispensers, though he noted the associated servicing and security costs. Mark Gleeson of the Rail Users Campaign indicated that a seven-year contract for nationwide coverage would cost approximately €14.7 million, suggesting that departmental funding is currently lacking.

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Asking both the existing providers on the market and people that have nothing to do with train catering previously - give us innovative solutions, something that's commercial, something that we can deliver at low or no cost, and we are working on that.