The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has begun testing a new catering model on select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains, marking a potential shift in how onboard meals are served to passengers. The trial aims to enhance food quality, improve service delivery, and offer greater variety to travellers across premium and long-distance routes.
Why the Change in Catering Approach?
In recent years, passengers have increasingly voiced concerns about the limited food options, inconsistent quality, and delays in onboard meal delivery on trains. With India’s railways modernising rapidly and newer services like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat gaining popularityIRCTC’s move comes as part of broader efforts to elevate the travel experience and align service standards with growing customer expectations.
The new model under trial is designed to address these feedback areas by streamlining food preparation, improving hygiene, and ensuring timely delivery to passengers on board.
Key Features of the New Catering Model
Under the pilot programme, IRCTC is testing several key improvements:
- Pre-Ordered Meals: Passengers may soon be able to order meals before their journey at the time of booking or through the IRCTC app, ensuring availability and personalisation.
- Fresh and Regional Cuisine: The trial emphasises freshly prepared meals highlighting regional flavours tailored to the routes served by Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains.
- Standardised Quality Checks: Teams are implementing tighter quality control at food preparation hubs to maintain consistent taste and hygiene across trains and services.
- Timely Delivery: The model is designed to reduce delays by coordinating meal preparation with train schedules and station halts.
These enhancements reflect IRCTC’s intention to bring onboard catering closer to airline-style food services while respecting the unique requirements of rail travel.
Routes and Trains Included in the Trial
The pilot is currently underway on several key Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat routes that see high passenger demand. These trains, known for their speed, comfort, and modern amenities, are considered ideal candidates for elevating catering services given their premium positioning and frequent long-distance runs.
Passengers travelling on these select trains may notice differences in menu offerings, food presentation, and delivery procedures compared to traditional onboard catering.
What Passengers Can Expect
If the trial proves successful, the new catering model could be expanded across the broader IRCTC network, offering passengers:
- Better food quality and hygiene
- Expanded menu options with healthier choices
- Improved booking flexibility for meals
- Faster service during journeys
For many frequent travellers, these changes could significantly enhance comfort and convenience during long train trips.
Moving Forward
IRCTC said it will closely monitor passenger feedback and operational performance during the trial phase. Based on data and user responses, the new catering model may be refined further before wider implementation.
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