Indian Railways and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) are refining their onboard dining strategy to better align with changing passenger preferences. Recent data indicates a shift in how travelers consume meals on premium services, leading to a more flexible approach to catering. Key highlights of these updates include:
- 25% to 30% of passengers are now opting out of prepaid meals on premium trains like Vande Bharat and Rajdhani.
- IRCTC serves an average of 18 lakh meals daily, maintaining a remarkably low complaint ratio of 0.0008%.
- Passengers opting out of catering during booking can save between ₹150 and ₹350.
- An additional convenience fee of ₹50 applies if passengers order meals onboard after opting out initially.
- The e-pantry service is expanding to cover 100 trains in the near future.
Focusing on Passenger Choice
During the Q1 FY27 earnings call held in August 2026, IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director Rahul Himalian clarified that the trend of opting out of prepaid meals is driven by a desire for flexibility rather than dissatisfaction. With the corporation serving nearly 58 crore meals annually, the quality of service remains high, evidenced by the fact that the system receives only 300 to 500 complaints per day.
Onboard Flexibility and Regulations
Since February 2025, passengers on Vande Bharat trains have had the option to purchase food, including Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meals, directly while traveling. While this provides great convenience, travelers should note that opting out during the ticket booking process may result in a ₹50 convenience fee per meal if they decide to order once the journey has commenced. Furthermore, Indian Railways maintains strict passenger protection protocols: in the event that premium trains like Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, or Shatabdi face delays of two hours or more, the railway is mandated to provide free meals, refreshments, and water to all passengers, regardless of their initial booking selection.
Expanding Digital E-Pantry Services
To further modernize the travel experience, IRCTC is aggressively scaling its e-pantry infrastructure. This service, which allows passengers to order food for direct delivery to their seats, is currently active on over 50 trains. Following a successful pilot on the Vivek Express and a subsequent rollout to 25 Mail and Express trains by February 2026, the corporation now plans to extend this digital service to approximately 100 trains. This expansion is part of a broader effort to digitize rail catering and provide passengers with a wider variety of dining options at their fingertips.