THE Margin is sad to report the passing of a legend this week. After many years of faithful service to Iarnrod Eireann, the heartless people in the Network Catering Company have killed off the railway sandwich.

Showing ruthlessness on a par with soap opera script writers, they have replaced the faithful old servant with an up market newcomer supplied by Gate Gourmet Ireland, part of the in flight caterers based at Dublin Airport. In a rather tongue in cheek press release, Iarnrod Eireann says "the century old railway sandwiches will never be forgotten Century old? Ah come on, they were a little fresher than that.