Trolley service resumes on limited number of Cork-Dublin trains

Irish Rail said a full procurement service would proceed for catering services across the entire intercity network.

With on-board catering set to return on the Cork to Dublin route later this month, a limited service is available this week, Irish Rail has confirmed.

Three years since the trolley service was suspended due to the pandemic, it will resume on a limited number of services on the Cork to Dublin route this week for staff training purposes.

It is expected that the on-board service will extend to all services on the route in the upcoming weeks.

At that point, Irish Rail said 50% of intercity customers will have access to onboard catering as the Cork to Dublin route also serves the majority of customers travelling to/from Kerry and Limerick.

The company struggled to find a replacement after RailGourmet, the company that had previously supplied the catering service, withdrew due to cost and staffing issues.

Carriage Food Services, which already provides the trolley service on the Dublin-Belfast route under a separate contract, will now serve the Cork-Dublin route.

In February, Irish Rail said a full procurement service will proceed for catering services across the entire intercity network.

"We have been as keen as our customers to see on-board catering resume, and are delighted to be in a position to do so with this interim provision," an Irish Rail spokesperson said.

"We also believe that the success of the interim service will ensure that some of the inflated costs being quoted for full catering provision across our intercity network will be reduced through the full procurement process."

Irish Rail previously confirmed the plan to go ahead with a pilot programme that would see vending machines installed on select trains.

If successful, it is hoped vending machines would be in place on all trains complementary to the trolley service.