- Passengers on select Mail and Express trains can pre-book meals via IRCTC's E-Pantry service
- The service is available on 25 trains including Vivek Express and Paschim Express
- Meals and packaged water can be ordered online during booking or later through Booked Ticket History
Passengers travelling on select Mail and Express trains will now be able to pre-book their meals before boarding. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has rolled out its new E-Pantry service, currently available on 25 trains across the network, aimed at simplifying food access for long-distance travellers. The service was initially tested on the Vivek Express before expanding to more routes. According to IRCTC, the system is designed for trains where meals are not included in the ticket fare and allows passengers to reserve food in advance instead of relying on en-route vendors or pantry staff availability.
What The E-Pantry Service Offers
The service functions as a digital meal-ordering platform built into IRCTC's existing ticketing system. Passengers with confirmed, RAC or partially confirmed tickets can pre-order standard meals and packaged drinking water, which will be delivered to their seats by the onboard pantry car team. IRCTC says the system is intended to bring clarity and predictability to food service on long journeys, especially on trains that rely solely on pantry cars.
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Key features include:
- Online ordering of meals during ticket booking or later through "Booked Ticket History"
- Cashless payment through digital modes
- A Meal Verification Code (MVC) shared over SMS or email to confirm delivery
- Digital tracking dashboards for order management
- Refunds if meals are not delivered as booked
How Passengers Can Book Meals
The E-Pantry option appears during the ticket-booking process on the IRCTC website or app. Travellers who skip it can still place an order later through the "Booked Ticket History" section. Once the meal is booked, passengers receive a confirmation message along with an MVC, which must be shown to the vendor at the time of delivery. On the day of travel, the pantry staff delivers the meal directly to the seat associated with the ticket.
Where The Service Is Available
The E-Pantry facility is currently active on 25 Mail and Express trains, spanning a mix of long-distance and high-demand routes. The list includes trains such as the Vivek Express, Swatantra Senani Express, Swarnajayanti Express, Kalinga Utkal Express, and Paschim Express, among others. More trains are expected to be added over time, depending on feedback and operational capacity.
Why This Matters For Travellers
For years, passengers on non-catered trains have had to rely on station vendors or pantry counters with unpredictable availability. By integrating meal booking directly into the ticketing system, IRCTC aims to make onboard food service more structured and transparent, particularly during long-distance journeys. The ability to track orders digitally and receive verified delivery also adds accountability to the process.
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With the initial rollout complete, the railways will be watching user response as the service expands to more routes in the coming months.
