Galway councillor hands out snacks and drinks on train calling for catering service to be restored
Passengers travelling from Galway to Dublin on Irish Rail avoided going hungry this week after a Galway city councillor staged a one-off onboard snack service to highlight the need to restore train catering.
Cllr Helen Ogbu walked the aisles of an Iarnród Éireann service carrying a box of crisps and snacks in a tray around her neck, in a bid to draw attention to efforts to improve the public transport experience.
In a post on Instagram, Cllr Ogbu said catering services should be reinstated, particularly on longer intercity journeys.
“So I will be offering this service aboard this train today,” she said.
“Whether it’s a cup of coffee, a bottle of water or a bar of chocolate, the availability of catering services on our trains can transform your journey or save you in a crisis.”
Catering services were halted during the Covid-19 pandemic and failed to be reinstated when Irish Rail confirmed to the Irish Independent in 2022 that it wouldn’t be on the task list for the following year.
Since then, it’s been a highlighted topic for train commuters who have to plan ahead for food and beverage.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has said he would rather a focus of resources to increase rail services rather than on-board catering.
At this time, catering service is only represented on the “busiest” trains, an Iarnród Éireann spokesperson told the Irish Independent, which includes service between Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Cllr Ogbu added: “It simply doesn’t make sense that catering services still haven’t returned on the Galway to Dublin route. We are asking people to choose public transport, to leave the car at home, and to make more sustainable choices but the service has to meet people halfway.”
“I am calling on Irish Rail to get this sorted. Passengers deserve better, and if we are serious about public transport, we need to make it a service people actually want to use.”
Funding is not available through the NTA to reinstate such services and there is no future date expected for the implementation of them despite “continuing to work to restore catering services to Intercity routes not currently served,” Iarnród Éireann said.
However, the rail service said they are continuing in engagement with catering providers seeking creative solutions for the lack of service in “cost-effective” manners.
Cllr Ogbu is a candidate in the upcoming Galway West byelection, looking to occupy the vacant seat left by President Catherine Connolly.