From packing food for all in the earlier times to ordering food online to be delivered at specific stations, travelling by train in India has come a long way. These days, you do not have to spend time preparing food and packing them before your overnight journey. You can either order the food from the train catering services, book it along with your train tickets online, or get them delivered to your seats.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation or IRCTC, offers snacks and other meals of the day on various express trains. You will have food offerings regularly throughout your journey, especially for a day train or a long journey. During those journeys, you can try some of the delicious snack items, freshly prepared by the IRCTC catering services.
You can easily book your IRCTC train tickets online with redRail in just a few clicks. Also, you get increased probability of confirmed train tickets with confirmation prediction on redRail.
Food on IRCTC Trains
These days, the food delivered in trains is mainly prepared at the train pantry and is offered to the passengers at regular times. You will get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks coming with different options of veg and non-veg as well. Among these snacks are the best to try which have more variety than the main meals. Here are the top five snacks that you can try on your next long journey.
- Paneer Tikka
Paneer Tikka is one of the most available snack items on some express trains. You can enjoy a light but filling snack in the evening with a cup of hot ginger tea. This item will be a burst of flavour and healthy with the paneer.
- Multigrain Sandwich
Sandwiches are one of the go-to snacks for many. Here, the Indian railways offer a healthier option with a multigrain sandwich. Although it is not a widely available option on all trains, it can be a good alternative to deep-fried snack items. The snack comes with healthy vegetable filling and can be a good option for an evening snack.
- Poha
The tangly flavoured, spicy, and healthy Poha is a popular breakfast item which can also be used as a midday meal. If you are not a great fan of fried snacks, this will be a wonderful option to try. You will have it with chutney made of coconut or mint leaves. It will be ideal for a late breakfast if you are boarding the train a little later.
- Samosa
The most favourite snack for Indians, the samosas are offered in plenty. This is one snack that is available on all trains of almost all routes. You can enjoy a flavourful, light meal that will fill your tummy for a while. Follow it with a cup of tea to complete the experience. You will also be able to find both normal tea and ginger tea.
- Cutlets
Cutlets, whether it is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, are a popular snack available both as a midday or evening snack on trains in India. It is a perfect blend of healthy vegetables and deep-fried food items.
Train Journey Equals Food Paradise
The freshly prepared food items on the train offer the perfect opportunity for a food journey for foodies. If you are a foodie and are travelling on a day train on a scenic route, you can experience heaven on earth. The multitude of options with snacks twice a day followed by delicious meals can be a wonderful experience.
You can buy these food items on demand as available or book them in advance through the IRCTC or other online portals. In fact, you can even order pizza from a specific store or directly from the IRCTC app to be delivered to your seat number.
How to Book Snacks Online for a Train Journey
You can book food on the train by two methods. One, you can book it using your PNR number or with the train number and boarding time. Booking with PNR is much easier. Following are the few simple steps to book snacks online for your upcoming train journey,
- Provide the PNR number to start the process.
- Choose the desired food from the options available, either from the train or outside.
- Place the order using online payment or Cash on Delivery, as applicable.
- Get your food at your seat, on time.
You can book the food for yourself or for a group in bulk as well. Food booking is a separate process from the booking of train tickets. You must have a confirmed ticket with a PNR number to be able to book the food online.
While booking online, you will be given a menu with the prices and vendor information. You will be able to book only from the registered vendors, as displayed on your screen.
How Hygienic is the Food Offered on Trains?
The Indian Railways has improved its standard of food quality and has taken enough measures to ensure food hygiene. In addition, meals are served in air-tight containers. It is reflected in all its trains, including the latest Vande Bharat Express trains.
Owing to the concerns of vegetarians who are sceptical about taking the food, the Vande Bharat Express on the Delhi-Katra route has been made Sativi, which offers only vegetarian food. It is also insisted that the passengers not carry non-veg food on board.
Which Trains Offer Complimentary Food?
Shatabdi Express, Rajdhani Express, and Duronto Express offer free food for all, with a confirmed ticket. On these trains, the food is included in the train ticket fare. So you do not need to pay an additional amount for the meals or snacks.
Moreover, the railway is bound to serve food to the passengers of any train in case of a delay of more than two hours. In such cases, food ) breakfast, lunch, or dinner) will be served to them as per the time.
Conclusion
You can always enjoy a hearty meal, a tasty snack or a cup of hot beverage while travelling by train. There will be a choice to buy the food offered from the pantry or book the food in advance through various portals. IRCTC is not the only way to order food. There are several other apps and portals that you can use to book your meals. So, find the best one to enjoy some tasty snacks on your next train journey!