Passengers travelling on Mail-Express and Superfast trains will soon be able to pre-book their meals and snacks through the pantry car, similar to the service offered on premium trains like Vande Bharat and Shatabdi. This initiative is designed to tackle issues related to high prices, delays, and unsatisfactory meals. The service will be rolled out as a pilot project on 15 major trains across the country, including many long-distance routes in Rajasthan. Importantly, there will be no additional charges for this service.

Regarding the pre-booking rules and refund policy, passengers can cancel their pre-bookings before the passenger chart is created, with no refunds issued afterward. If an order is cancelled within 48 hours of the train's departure, a deduction of Rs 10/- for meals and Rs 5/- for snacks will apply. Orders placed during the train journey cannot be cancelled and will not receive refunds. However, if the food is not delivered, a full refund will be provided.

For booking and payment, the pre-booking service will be available through the Centre for Railway Information Systems. Passengers can make payments digitally via the website and app. Those on the waiting list will receive a link via SMS after their ticket is confirmed, enabling them to access the service.

The food delivery schedule will be as follows: Rail Neer will be available from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, tea and coffee from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, breakfast from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, lunch from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and dinner from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

The Railway Board has been addressing ongoing complaints about food quality and service delays. This new pre-booking facility aims to enhance passenger satisfaction. In cases of complaints, penalties will be imposed on the delivering firm.

Source: Rajasthan Patrika