Tea trolley returns to Galway Dublin trains

THE long-awaited tea trolley service will return to Galway to Dublin Heuston trains from Monday, August 24.

The pilot service will operate for six months on selected train services each way, with the potential to extend further.

Catering services haven't been available on the route since the first lockdown of Covid 19 in 2020.

Iarnród Éireann say that the pilot will help determine the viability of extending commercial catering across the Intercity network, with decisions to be made in consultation with the National Transport Authority upon completion.

Fianna Faíl TD for Galway East Albert Dolan has welcomed the return of the catering trolley.

“On board catering is a valued part of long distance rail travel, and its return on the Galway line will make journeys more comfortable for families, students, workers, and visitors alike,” noted Deputy Dolan.

“Demand for rail travel is at record levels and improving the customer experience must go hand in hand with expanding capacity and reliability,” he added.

The catering trolley will serve the Heuston to Galway trains running at 7.35am, 9.25am and 11.30am and the Galway to Heuston trains running at 11.05am, 1.05pm and 3.05pm from Monday to Saturday.

On Sundays, it will be on the Heuston to Galway trains running at 8am, 10.30am and 11.40am and the Galway to Heuston trains running at 11am, 1.40pm and 3pm.

The service will be operated by an Irish company Sambos.ie, without the Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding.