'I think it's partially a case of lack of demand and partially that the trains are suburban for a good part of their run, so having a first-class section would just reduce the seating accommodation for regular passengers.'
Yes, the current Dublin/Rosslare Harbour service is partially suburban and this needs to be addressed. There is a good case to be made for making Greystones the first stop out of Dublin and the last stop in the Up direction. Why should inter-city passengers have to put up with commuters sitting all over them once the train reaches Bray in the Up direction or until they reach Bray in the Down direction. It makes the whole 'inter-city' experience wholly unpleasant. It doesn't happen on any other inter-city service.
1st class is the standard setter - even if little used - and services without it soon become 'sub-standard' class rather than standard class. The whole business class of traveller tends to be put off rail travel when 1st class is not available. Not from a snobbery point of view but more in terms of having somewhere quiet and slightly more spacious to work in.
The bloody awful catering also needs to be urgently addressed. The poxy, grossly overpriced trolley service simply is not acceptable.
