Railways Plans Plane-Like Meals On Elite Trains

Come July, railways has plans to serve passengers with a ‘combo meal’ on elite trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto.

Like the food served on airplanes, the combo meal will be simple but high in taste and quality, said chairman of Railway Board Ashwani Lohani. He added that the move will be on a trial basis and if it finds favour with passengers, it will be later extended to all 64 premium trains.

Railways has decided reform its catering services through steps such as rationalising the menu and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and CCTV cameras to flag irregularities in preparation.

“The menu would be simple, could be in the form of combo meal, comprising at best two to three items similar to what is served by airlines. High in quality and taste,” he told media persons here.

The combo meal is aimed at reducing the number of complaints against the quality of food served on Rajdhani and Duronto.

The existing menu, he added, comprises six-seven items, but is often low on quality and also at times compromised on hygiene.

The Railways has come under repeated criticisms over the quality of food served. Last year, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its report had termed the food served at stations and in trains “unfit for human consumption”.