Irish Rail and catering service

Sir, – I read with much excitement Áine Ryan’s report (“Irish Rail says catering service to return to Intercity lines by end of year” (News, July 2nd). I was suddenly transported to all those wonderful trains abroad (we’ve just returned from the mountains and railways of Switzerland) in which over the years my wife and I have enjoyed catering that continental and other intercity lines further afield provide for travellers. However, my heart dropped a beat when I read on to discover it’s not catering, rather it’s just a trolley service with the prospect of a sandwich and some coffee. Announcements like this are as much fun as when one hears those awful words " replacement bus”.

Come on, Irish Rail; a simple galley- kitchen on all those intercity trains with the possibility of something warm and nourishing would do more to bring back passengers to the railways than a dreary trolley ever would. – Yours, etc,

ALASTAIR CONAN,

Coulsdon,

An Olympian, a revolutionary and a Christy Moore song: Bob Hilliard was the boxing Irish clergyman who fought against Franco

---

Bad therapy: ‘After some of our sessions I couldn’t go into work the next day’

---

Shane O’Donnell: ‘The stone wall I ran into when trying to interact with the GAA about my concussion was extremely frustrating’

---

Hozier in Marlay Park review: Mild-mannered musician transforms into rock star

---

London.