Tea trolleys return to Dublin/Galway trains on six-month trial basis

Tea trolleys are set to make a comeback on Dublin/Galway trains as part of a six-month trial service. Catering on many rail routes was halted in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since May 2023, service has been restricted to the Dublin/Cork and Dublin/Belfast lines.

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We know how much our customers value an on-board catering service, and with record demand for our train services, we appreciate that it has been frustrating that it has been limited to Dublin to Cork (also benefiting most Limerick and Kerry customers) and Dublin to Belfast routes over recent years.

Starting Monday, tea trolleys will be available on specific trains running between Dublin Heuston and Galway. The pilot will operate on weekdays and weekends, with multiple services scheduled daily. The journey between Heuston Station and Galway typically lasts about two-and-a-half hours.

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We will undertake this pilot with Sambos.ie to help determine the potential for more extensive catering operation on a commercial basis, which will be decided upon completion of the pilot, in consultation with the National Transport Authority.

Iarnród Eireann, the national railway company, stated that the pilot could lead to extending catering to more services and other routes. A spokesperson noted that customers value the on-board catering and that its limited availability has been frustrating. The company will work with Sambos.ie to evaluate the commercial viability of a more extensive catering operation, with decisions to be made after the pilot in consultation with the National Transport Authority.

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The demand for catering on our Intercity network is well established at this stage. Whatever the pilot tells us about Galway, the demand across the network isn’t going to go away.

Mark Duffy, Fine Gael's Seanad Spokesperson on Transport, welcomed the decision, seeing it as a sign that Iarnród Eireann is responsive to passenger needs. However, he argued that the demand for catering is well-established and should not depend on a six-month trial. Duffy stressed the need for continued investment in these services, considering them a basic travel necessity. He also pointed out that numerous other lines, such as Westport, Waterford, and Sligo, still lack catering, urging further expansion beyond the current pilot routes.

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There needs to be continued investment in these services, which should be treated as a basic need while travelling across the country.