Patna: Passengers travelling on several long-distance trains serving Bihar may soon be able to buy meals and snacks onboard, with Eastern Railway planning to introduce mini pantry cars in 32 major mail and express trains.
The proposed service includes three trains that pass through key Bihar stations — the Kolkata-Jaynagar Express, Kolkata-Mithilanchal Express and Jansewa Express. The facility is expected to reduce passengers’ dependence on station vendors during long journeys.
Food And Snacks To Be Available Onboard
Once the mini pantry facilities become operational, passengers will be able to purchase food and snacks during the journey without waiting for the train to reach a station.
The initiative is particularly relevant for passengers travelling long distances, where access to food can otherwise depend on station stops and authorised or unauthorised vendors.
Railway authorities are expected to enforce standards related to food quality and hygiene for the onboard service.
Contractors To Be Selected Through Tender
The mini pantry service will not be operated directly by the railway. Contractors will be selected through a tender process to operate the facilities.
The selected contractors will have to provide food at rates prescribed by the railway and comply with the applicable standards for food quality and hygiene.
The arrangement is intended to provide passengers with a more regulated onboard food service.
Kolkata-Jaynagar Express Included
The 13135/13136 Kolkata-Jaynagar Express is among the trains proposed to receive the mini pantry facility.
The train operates between Kolkata and Jaynagar, with stops at stations including Naihati, Bardhaman, Asansol, Jasidih, Jhajha, Barauni, Samastipur and Darbhanga on its route towards Jaynagar.
The return service operates from Jaynagar to Kolkata.
Kolkata-Mithilanchal Express Also On List
The 13155/13156 Kolkata-Mithilanchal Express, which connects Kolkata with Sitamarhi, has also been included in the proposed mini pantry service.
The train serves several important stations, including Bardhaman, Jasidih, Barauni, Dalsinghsarai, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Janakpur Road.
Passengers travelling on this route could have access to onboard food and refreshments once the proposed facility becomes operational.
Jansewa Express Passengers To Benefit
The 13419/13420 Jansewa Express is another train serving Bihar that has been included in the plan.
Train 13419 runs from Bhagalpur to Muzaffarpur, passing through stations including Sultanganj, Jamalpur, Kiul, Barauni, Dalsinghsarai, Samastipur and Dholi.
The return service, 13420, operates between Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur.
32 Mail And Express Trains In The Plan
The proposed mini pantry initiative extends beyond trains serving Bihar.
According to the information available, 32 major mail and express trains under Eastern Railway are planned to receive the facility. The move is intended to expand onboard catering services to more long-distance trains.
Passengers already receive onboard catering on several premium services, including Vande Bharat trains. The proposed mini pantry system would extend similar food-service access to selected conventional mail and express services.
What The Facility Means For Passengers
For long-distance passengers, an onboard food facility could make journeys more convenient by providing meals and snacks without requiring passengers to depend entirely on food vendors at railway stations.
With contractors required to follow railway-prescribed prices and quality standards, the system is also expected to provide greater consistency in the availability and supply of food.
The timing for commencement of the mini pantry services and the final operational details will depend on the tender and implementation process.
