IRCTC to Resume Catering Services in Train
IRCTC catering service to resume soon. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has decided to resume providing food on trains. Passengers will be able to eat food in train cooked in pantry car. Earlier, the Railway has suspended the catering services on the train due to the risk of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many trains were also suspended, and a few special trains ran to help passengers reach from one place to another. Also, the Railway Ministry announced running trains with their regular numbers to restore the operation of trains to pre-COVID time.
Subsequently, Railway Board has decided to provide freshly cooked food on Gatiman Express, Rajdhani Express, Vande Bharat, and Duronto Express trains. You can check the live running status of these trains online, through RailMitra App.
According to news sources, IRCTC will inform all the Railway Zones about the exact date when the cooked food will be served on these trains. In this regard, Zonal Railways will verify the catering charges based on the rate list and feed the same on the PRS database. Passengers can book or opt-out catering services from the advanced reservation period when booking train tickets.
In addition, IRCTC has asked Zonal Railway officers to inform passengers who have already bought tickets through emails and SMS regarding the resumption of catering services on the trains. Passengers having tickets and regular tickets can avail catering services on train upon payment of charges in advance.
For those passengers who have booked tickets in advance and have not opted for the catering services online, freshly cooked food can be provided on demand. Catering charges shall be collected from them during the food delivery.
With the resumption of cooked meal service on the train, the IRCTC Catering Service has brought a few changes to the menu of Vande Bharat trains. For example, according to the old menu, passengers were served ice cream as a dessert; however, IRCTC is now serving them Kaju-Pista Kheer instead of ice cream. In some premium trains, passengers can choose between sweets, ice cream, and kheer.
In the ongoing situation of the COVID pandemic, Railway has made restrictions on providing food on trains. Only tea, coffee, and soup, noodles etc., are available on the train. However, ready-to-eat meals such as packaged food are already being served on trains.
IRCTC Catering Service: The Synonym of Catering and Hospitality
Indian Railways have been serving passengers with catering and hospitality since the inception of IRCTC in 1999. The Indian Railway and Tourism Corporation, IRCTC is a Mini Ratna (Category – 1) enterprise of the Central Government of India. It also provides bedrolls (blanket, linen, pillows and bed sheet) on long-distance travelling trains.
Besides serving food on trains and stations, it promotes tourism through special tour packages, a global reservation system, and special cultural and religious trains with luxurious amenities. Also, the company’s core activity is to manufacture popular packaged drinking water, Rail Neer, and internet ticketing services.
RailRestro: Best e Catering Service Provider
RailRestro is the premium e-catering partner of IRCTC. It has been serving passengers fresh food in trains without compromising the quality and taste. The company serves freshly cooked meals on wheels prepared from FSSAI authorized restaurants. Passengers can book meals through the food in train app or its website. The company is popular among passengers for hygienic food and offers and discounts.
What are IRCTC e-catering services, and how passengers can go for them?
To serve passengers quality and a variety of foods, IRCTC has introduced e-catering services. RailRestro is the top e-catering service provider for IRCTC that serves delicious food on all trains. Passengers can order their meal with their ticket’s PNR number or train number.
Interestingly, RailRestro has been serving healthy and hygienic foods since the COVID-19 pandemic when Railways suspended its catering services. Passengers can order a delicious meal via a website or app. They can also place an order by making a phone call on 8102202203.
Is catering service available in train?
Yes, IRCTC has resumed catering services on trains. Currently, cooked food is provided only on select trains like Rajadhani, Duronto, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat trains. It has also brought changes in its menu with a variety of food options for passengers. As the situation will normalize after the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCTC is expecting to resume catering services on more trains. Meanwhile, new rates for food items are being fed to the passenger reservation system.
Can I get desserts on train?
Yes, you can get dessert on train from IRCTC e-catering partner like RailRestro. They provide delivery of popular Indian sweets like Sandesh, Rasgulla, Gulab Jamun, and Jalebi on trains. Regional desserts like Ghevar from Rajasthan, Bebnica from Goa, Mysore Pak from Karnataka, and Peda from Mathura.
Can I get non-veg food on the train?
Yes, you can get delicious non-veg food on the train delivered to your seat from RailRestro. While travelling, you can order and get Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani, Mutton Kebab, Fish Curry, and other yummy non-veg dishes. The meal is provided at the selected en-route stations of the train you travel by. Local non-veg recipes can also be made available. Therefore, it is advised to passengers to look out the menu for the availability of the dishes.
Until you enjoy mouth-watering dishes from catering services on trains, check out our blogs to learn more about IRCTC Catering Service, Indian Railways, and Railway Stations in India. If you wish to plan a journey via train, install the RailMitra app to check train schedules, find routes, fare inquiries, and get seat availability for a hassle-free travelling experience. Alternatively, you can also spot any IRCTC train on your Smartphone. Besides that, you can also order yummy meals while travelling.
Escape to a beautiful destination with Indian Railways trains and enjoy the best meals while gazing out to the passing world outside!