Premium

IRCTC starts trials for branded meal service on select Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains

IRCTC Branded Food Meals on Vande Bharat: As per IRCTC, these meal trials also provide passengers with a diverse, restaurant-quality menu including local delicacies aimed at improving satisfaction level during travel.

2 min readUpdated: Dec 12, 2025 03:51 PM IST

IRCTC Branded Meals: IRCTC is presently serving approximately 16.50 lakh meals per day across Indian Railways (IR) network. (Image: Ministry of Railways/IRCTC)

IRCTC meals on train, IRCTC branded meals trial news: The Ministry of Railways is continuously working to improve services for train passengers. Keeping this in mind, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched Proof of Concept (PoC) meal trials on select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express trains to enhance the quality of onboard meals. IRCTC is a Navaratna, Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways.

Also Read | Railways upgrades infrastructure at Kamakhya station for upcoming Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains

IRCTC branded food on Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat Express

IRCTC is presently serving approximately 16.50 lakh meals per day across Indian Railways (IR) network. In a statement, the IRCTC said: “In order to have “PARADIGM SHIFT” in quality of meal services in trains and with an objective to have perceptible improvements in on-board catering services in trains IRCTC has commenced meal trials is some select trains.”

The focus through these trials remains on kitchen infrastructure, meal production processes, transfer of meal and service of meal in the entire supply chain.

Also Read | Railway projects in Kerala: DPR work begins for over 750 km new rail lines – check routes

IRCTC catering on Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains

“IRCTC in this respect is undertaking PoC de-linking meal production and meal service, so that branded F&B players i.e. industrial kitchens, restaurant chains, and flight caterers are roped to provide fresh, hygienic meals for service to the passengers,” it added. The PoC is being conducted across various zones in some of newly introduced Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains.

20101/20102

Nagpur–Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express

Caterers

M/s Haldiram's (Nagpur) and Elior (Secunderabad)

14047/14048

Delhi–Sitamarhi Amrit Bharat

Caterer

M/s Touch Stone Foundation (Delhi)

20633/20634

Kasargod–Trivandrum Vande Bharat Express

Caterer

Casino Air Caterers & Flight Services (CAFS)

20631/20632

Mangalore–Trivandrum Vande Bharat Express

Caterer

Casino Air Caterers & Flight Services (CAFS)

Commencing from 16/12/25

26901/26902

Ahmedabad–Veraval Vande Bharat Express

Caterers

M/s CAFS Kitchen (Gandhinagar) and M/s Safal Foodies (Rajkot)

26401/02 & 26403/04

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Srinagar Vande Bharat trains

Caterer

Vaishno Devi Sarovar Portico (Katra & Srinagar)

15567/15568

Bapudham Motihari–Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express

Caterer

M/s ISKON, Dwarka

Source: IRCTC

Express InfoGenIE

As per IRCTC, these meal trials also provide passengers with a diverse, restaurant-quality menu including local delicacies aimed at improving satisfaction level during travel. “There has been positive feedback from the passengers about meal services in aforesaid trains. The insights gained from this PoC shall be examined to bring about further improvement and expansion in the catering services being provided to our valued travellers,” it stated.

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...

IRCTC starts trials for branded meal service on select Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains

IRCTC Branded Food Meals on Vande Bharat: As per IRCTC, these meal trials also provide passengers with a diverse, restaurant-quality menu including local delicacies aimed at improving satisfaction level during travel.

IRCTC branded food on Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat Express

IRCTC catering on Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat trains

IRCTC Proof of Concept (PoC) Meal Trials on select Vande Bharat / Amrit Bharat Trains