Mayo councillors want return of tea service on Westport to Dublin train

Mayo councillors have called on Irish Rail to reintroduce a catering service on their trains from Mayo to Dublin in order for people to get a cup of tea while travelling.

Tea and coffee and other snacks have not been sold on trains from Mayo to Dublin since the trolley service was ended during Covid despite repeated calls for its return.

The message was reiterated to Derrick Curran, the regional manager with Irish Rail who gave an update on the Westport to Dublin train service at the monthly meeting of Westport/Belmullet Municipal District.

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Independent councillor John O'Malley spoke of his own experience of using the Westport to Dublin train and lamented the fact he was unable to get a drink or a snack on either journey.

“I left on the 7.10am train to get to a funeral in Dublin and had to come down again early to attend another funeral. There was nothing to be had neither a cup of tea or coffee. 

“I went out to the funeral and was lucky to get a taxi back to the station in time for the train. I had nothing to eat or drink until I got back to Westport again. I thought if I could get a coffee or a snack or anything but you could get nothing on the train. I have heard so many people complain about the same thing and surely in this day and age it should be rectified," he said.

His call for refreshments to be served on the train was echoed by his fellow councillors with Erris-based Cllr Gerry Coyle saying he could not understand how people could not even buy a bottle of water.

The new Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr Peter Flynn added that the lack of a catering service is one part of the train service which is a negative.

“The service has improved so much over the years but I would concur that the food service is one negative people talk about when travelling. I travelled by train quite a bit in Italy and any of the trains that don't have a catering service have a machine that makes the coffee and have water bottles. Surely that is something that can be added easily enough without having to add the man power,” he said.

Mr Curran explained that the trolley service has not returned to any of the train routes bar the Cork to Heuston service but it was something Irish Rail were looking at.

“As far as I am aware there were some tenders issued through the NTA to start a trolley service back on some routes but I am not clear where it is on the Westport route,” he explained.

Cllr O'Malley said he would welcome any return on the Westport line saying that having a cup of tea is very important to people.