We had asked you, dear readers, to share memories of what you ate on train journeys.
Here are some of the responses we received. Have you shared yours yet?
Srinivas AR, 38, from Bangalore remembers the time he travelled by Bangalore-Chennai Express.
"I travelled in April 2015 by the Bangalore-Chennai Express (12610), which leaves Bangalore station at 8 am.
"It is a chair-car train with a pantry. While the train was at the platform, prior to its departure, the pantry staff started selling breakfast items including pongal vada and idli vada.
"I had the pongal vada, which tasted fairly good. But the rice was slightly overcooked.
"The coconut chutney was good and sufficient. However, the vada would have been lot more enjoyable and more appealing if it was wrapped separately and not with the pongal.
"Tea was sold for Rs 7 at regular intervals, and was not bad.
"There was a continuous supply of food items throughout the journey including sada dosa, masala dosa, masala vada, veg cutlets, soup, bottled water, etc.
"Most of the items were brought for sale multiple times.
"The veg cutlets were very tasty.
"In all, it was a decent level of catering, apart from the packaging of the pongal vada."
Uthayamurthy P H has been unhappy about the quality of food served in trains. Here he voices his dissatisfaction:
"My wife and I used to travel at least five times every year from Coimbatore to Bangalore, and back.
"Usually we would take Train No. 11014 Coimbatore Kurla express, which would leave Coimbatore at 8.45 am and reach Bangalore City Station around 3.45 pm the same day.
"During our journey, we have observed that vendors selling food items like vadas tend to wear plastic gloves on their hands.
"However, you can easily spot dirt on their fingernails, due to which we avoid buying food from them.
"As far as the quality of food is concerned, it would be prudent for us to carry food from home for breakfast and lunch.
"The tea and coffee sold in trains is tasteless. Even hot water tastes better than the railway tea and coffee!
"If for any reason the train gets delayed, then my wife and I put up with our hunger till our destination arrives.
"The only items which are sold quickly are water, cold drinks, biscuits, etc. It is a pity that even fruits are not sold in trains.
"We fail to understand why importance is not given to the quality of food served to the passengers!
"Everyone knows that poor quality food is likely to result in a stomach infection.
"If this trend continues, we’re afraid that there won’t be any takers for railway food."
Md Waliur Rahman, 27, a content writer from Pune shares some of his pleasant experiences when travelling by Pune-Patna Superfast Express:
"I take Pune-Patna Superfast Express when I visit my home in Motihari, Bihar during my holidays.
"The quality of meals served on this train -- which include parathas, matar paneer/paneer chilli for dinner, dal and jeera rice—and the service of the catering staff is good, especially when compared to the horrifying experiences I have had on other railway routes.
"On the train, they also serve other food items like vegetarian/egg/chicken biryani, egg bonda/pakoda, vegetarian chowmein/noodles, tomato soup, bottled water (at MRP), biscuits, cakes and wafers.
"The sleeper coaches are cleaned every morning and evening, and regular feedback is taken from the passengers.
"I do feel that the Indian Railways can take a cue from this train's service and catering.
"I have often heard the pantry car staff requesting passengers to have their meals as soon as it is served as it is piping hot when served, and may not taste good if consumed later.
"It's rare to find such railway staff nowadays!
Thane resident and civil engineer Deepak Gautam, 35, writes about the meals served on Vidharbha Superfast Express.
"Twice a week I travel by Vidharbha Superfast Express from Mumbai to Nagpur, and back. It is the only special train to Nagpur, and is used by politicians and the elite public of Vidharbha.
"For sometime the food served in this train, especially at dinner time, was excellent (dal, chawal with pickle).
"But nowadays, the quality of food has dropped, and its cost has risen.
"Central Railways is not conducting regular checks in the train's pantry car.
"The quality of tea has gone down.
"Earlier they used to serve dip tea, which was excellent. But now it's only hot water with flavour, colour and sugar."
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Have you travelled by Indian Railways? Share your memories of the meals you have had on Indian trains.
If you have pictures, send us those as well. Mail us at getahead@rediff.co.in and we will feature the best entries on Rediff.comand India Abroad.
Don't forget to mention your NAME, AGE and the place where you LIVE.
Lead image used for representational purposes only. Image: mswine/Creative Commons
