Iarnród Éireann has commenced the process to tender for a new on-board catering contract, after its current catering provider advised it was no longer able to provide the service.
In a statement this morning, Iarnród Éireann said that despite the best efforts of both it and catering provider Rail Gourmet, services would not be able to resume.
Given this, on-board catering is now unlikely to be available until "at least early 2023".
On-board catering was halted during the pandemic, and since the lifting of face-covering regulations last February the company says it has been coping with staffing issues and other additional costs.
Catering services will remain suspended on all Intercity network trains.
However catering on the Dublin-Belfast Enterprise train will continue on a limited basis, under a separate contract.
The company has apologised to passengers for the inconvenience.
It also highlighted that other options remain available to them, such as existing station-based retail and catering options, which the company says it will work "to further enhance".
Iarnród Éireann spokesperson Jane Cregan said a combination of staffing issues and rising costs meant that the catering provider was not in a position to continue.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Ms Cregan said the contract is "significant" and will take a considerable amount of time to be fulfilled.
"But we're working as fast as we can to ensure that we will get catering services back on board as soon as possible," she added.
Ms Cregan said they are working with catering providers at major train stations to see if they can provide some sort of offering at stations that do not currently have any catering facilities.
"The message for people who are going on Intercity journeys is that unfortunately at present they need to bring their own snacks and drinks on board."
