Irish Rail is “exploring” the possibility of putting vending machines on trains, the company has confirmed to Newstalk. 

The popular trolley service was axed during the pandemic and last year a spokesman said it was “proving very difficult” to find someone willing to cater to passengers. 

Now, a solution might be in sight.  

“Iarnrod Éireann is currently exploring the possibility of installing vending machines onboard services, but negotiations are at an early stage,” a spokesperson told Newstalk.  

“There are also modifications that would need to be made onboard to facilitate this from a mechanical & electrical perspective and we are also looking into this.”

BTNHA5 An Irish Rail train standing at the platform at Claremorris station, Co. Mayo, Ireland

The idea of vending machines was recently suggested to Lunchtime Live by Cork TD Thomas Gould who said the current service is inadequate. 

“Even at the minimum, would they put in machines where people could access a bottle of water?” he said. 

“I was on a train there before Christmas that broke down and it took me five hours to get to Dublin.

“On that train, you had elderly people, people who had families and there wasn’t a bottle of water on the train. 

“Listen, it’s 2023 - we need to offer a better service and the people want it.”

Main image: Split of a train and a vending machine.