Trolley good show: Rail cart goes viral as Senator launches DIY catering

Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove, originally from Castlelack near Bandon and now residing in Sligo, has taken action regarding the absence of a catering trolley on the Sligo to Dublin train route. In a recent video, she demonstrated her own makeshift snack cart, distributing snacks and water to passengers who have expressed concerns over the lack of catering services since the pandemic.

Senator Cosgrove was elected to the Seanad earlier this year and has been an active voice on this issue, advocating for the restoration of food and beverage services on one of the country’s longest train routes. She previously initiated a petition on the matter in May and has raised the topic in the Seanad. Her video gained considerable attention, and she acknowledged that the reaction exceeded her expectations.

During her outreach, Senator Cosgrove emphasized that the lack of catering has turned into a public safety issue, given that passengers can spend up to four hours on the train without access to food or water. While she seeks reinstitution of the catering trolley service, she was informed that no funding is currently allocated for this service on the Sligo to Dublin route, unlike other routes where services have resumed.