IRCTC Introduces Branded Catering Trials on Select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Trains

Transforming Onboard Dining with Branded Meal Services

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has initiated trials of a new branded meal service on select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains, aiming to elevate the quality and freshness of food served on board. This initiative involves collaborating with established food and beverage companies including industrial kitchens, restaurant chains, and airline caterers to supply passengers with hygienically prepared, freshly cooked meals. Initial passenger responses to these trials have been encouraging, indicating a positive shift away from traditional catering services.

A significant change introduced in this approach is the separation of meal production from the actual meal service team on trains. By onboarding specialized branded caterers, IRCTC is tapping into professional culinary expertise with the goal of delivering restaurant-quality menus, including regional delicacies that reflect local flavors, enhancing the travel experience for passengers.

Key Aspects of the Meal Service Trials

• Freshness & Hygiene: Ensuring meals are made fresh daily with high hygiene standards.
• Branded Partnerships: Collaborating with reputed food service providers such as Haldiram’s in Nagpur, Elior in Secunderabad, Touch Stone Foundation in Delhi, and Casino Air Caterers & Flight Services (CAFS) in Kerala.
• Menu Variety: Offering diverse and regionally inspired menus aimed at improving passenger satisfaction.
• Improved Supply Chain: Focusing on kitchen infrastructure, meal production processes, transfer logistics, and onboard meal service.

Trains Participating in the Trials

A Historical Perspective on Indian Rail Catering

The Indian railway catering system has evolved substantially since its inception, traditionally managed internally by IRCTC, a Navaratna Central Public Sector Enterprise serving over 16.5 lakh meals daily across the Indian railway network. Historically, onboard meal quality had mixed reviews, with challenges ranging from maintaining hygiene on long journeys to ensuring timely food delivery. In recent decades, efforts to modernize catering have included outsourcing to specialized service providers, the introduction of e-catering options where passengers select meals online, and upgrading kitchen infrastructure at key stations.

Over the years, Indian Railways has focused on integrating local culinary traditions into the available menus to please regional tastes. However, the distinct separation of food preparation and meal service currently being trialed represents a more strategic and refined approach, likely to set a new benchmark in onboard dining.

Past Challenges in Onboard Catering

1. Logistical complexity: Coordinating meal preparation across vast routes with varied durations.
2. Quality assurance: Maintaining freshness and hygiene standards on long-haul trains.
3. Limited culinary variety: Menu options often failed to reflect diverse regional tastes.
4. Passenger dissatisfaction: Negative feedback due to stale or subpar meals.

Implications for Travel and Tourism

Enhanced onboard catering services can play a vital role in transforming the travel experience on premium trains like the Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat. High-quality, hygienic meals aligned with regional flavors add a dimension of cultural immersion, making journeys more memorable and enticing travelers to choose rail travel over other modes. This shift also dovetails with the growing trend of experiential tourism, where food serves as an important aspect of destination discovery.

As India advances its rail infrastructure and passenger amenities, initiatives like these could elevate the profile of train travel, supporting domestic and international tourism growth. Superior food service can complement the comfort and speed of modern trains, contributing to increased patronage and positive word-of-mouth among travelers.

Potential Benefits for Passengers and Culinary Partners

Concluding Thoughts

The IRCTC’s branded meal service trials on Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains mark a promising step toward redefining rail catering in India. By engaging experienced food service companies and focusing on fresh, hygienic offerings with regional nuances, the initiative aims to spark a paradigm shift in onboard dining. Encouraging passenger feedback suggests this approach could soon be expanded to more trains, raising the bar for catering standards.

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