Irish Rail has confirmed catering services will return on the Cork to Dublin route in a few weeks' time.
It's also engaged in a procurement process for catering services across its entire Intercity network.
@benfinnegannews Irish Rail is slowly bringing back the cup of tea #irish #ireland #news #irishnews #irelandnews #tea #catering #train #coffee #trolley #vendingmachine ♬ original sound - Ben Finnegan
Vending machines will also be piloted on selected trains. If successful, vending machines would be intended to be complementary to onboard trolley services.
Catering services were suspended from trains in 2020 due to Covid-19 public health restrictions.
Irish Rail says it's been looking at ways to reintroduce catering services since February last year when the government lifted mandatory mask-wearing on trains and other public transport.
A spokesperson from Irish Rail said the company is aware of the public demand for food and hot drinks to be available on trains again.
“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.
"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.”
