{"id":1556,"date":"2023-06-25T09:43:14","date_gmt":"2023-06-25T09:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/?p=1556"},"modified":"2023-06-25T09:51:05","modified_gmt":"2023-06-25T09:51:05","slug":"then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved","title":{"rendered":"Then Vs Now: How ordering meals on trains has transformed over the timeline of Indian Railways"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With its vast network spanning the length and width of the country, the Indian Railways has long been a lifeline for travelers. The concept of ordering meals on train, or the food served on board is one feature of train travel that has always been a constant, along with the thrill of the journey. The dining experience on Indian trains has changed dramatically throughout the years. In this blog, we shall travel through time, investigating the evolution of train meals in Indian Railways and shedding light on the most recent innovations!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved\/#Evolution_of_ordering_meals_on_trains_in_Indian_Railways\" title=\"Evolution of ordering meals on trains in Indian Railways\">Evolution of ordering meals on trains in Indian Railways<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved\/#Part_1_The_early_days_%E2%80%93_Simplicity_on_wheels\" title=\"Part 1: The early days &#8211; Simplicity on wheels\">Part 1: The early days &#8211; Simplicity on wheels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved\/#Part_2_The_era_of_upgrades_%E2%80%93_Catering_services_and_expansion\" title=\"Part 2: The era of upgrades &#8211; Catering services and expansion\">Part 2: The era of upgrades &#8211; Catering services and expansion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved\/#Part_3_Modernization_and_technological_advancements\" title=\"Part 3: Modernization and technological advancements\">Part 3: Modernization and technological advancements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved\/#Part_4_Introducing_Zoop_India_%E2%80%93_A_game-changer\" title=\"Part 4: Introducing Zoop India &#8211; A game-changer\">Part 4: Introducing Zoop India &#8211; A game-changer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved\/#Explore_Zoop\" title=\"Explore Zoop\">Explore Zoop<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/then-vs-now-how-ordering-meals-on-trains-evolved\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Evolution_of_ordering_meals_on_trains_in_Indian_Railways\"><\/span><strong>Evolution of ordering meals on trains in Indian Railways<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Part_1_The_early_days_%E2%80%93_Simplicity_on_wheels\"><\/span><b>Part 1: The early days &#8211; Simplicity on wheels<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Train meals were modest and focused on giving sustenance to passengers in the early days of Indian Railways. The meals were made in onboard kitchens, popularly known as &#8220;pantries.&#8221; The menu was mostly Indian staples including dal, rice, chapati, and vegetable curries. Meals were served on steel thalis (plates) and were usually shared by passengers. As the quality and variety were limited, travelers enjoyed the convenience of enjoying a hot, home-cooked lunch while staring out the window at the passing countryside.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Part_2_The_era_of_upgrades_%E2%80%93_Catering_services_and_expansion\"><\/span><b>Part 2: The era of upgrades &#8211; Catering services and expansion<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The approach to ordering meals on trains evolved with Indian Railways. Catering services were added to provide passengers with more options. The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and commercial vendors were responsible for making and distributing food on train. This move improved the quality, presentation, and variety of meals available. Passengers could now order regional delicacies such as biryanis, kebabs, and other specialities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1568\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/25-June-1200x630-for-content-.webp\" alt=\"Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Part_3_Modernization_and_technological_advancements\"><\/span><b>Part 3: Modernization and technological advancements<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With technological developments and an increasing demand for convenience, the Indian Railways catering system underwent a considerable revamp. With the introduction of e-catering services, customers can now order meals on train from renowned eateries along the train route. This added a level of customisation and improved the whole dining experience. Passengers can enjoy their favorite dishes, which were brought hot and fresh to their seats.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>More to know:<\/em>\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/how-is-irctc-e-catering-changing-railway-journey-experience\">How is IRCTC e-Catering changing railway journey experience?<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Part_4_Introducing_Zoop_India_%E2%80%93_A_game-changer\"><\/span><b>Part 4: Introducing Zoop India &#8211; A game-changer<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the introduction of Zoop India, the Indian Railways&#8217; food services has undergone a revolutionary makeover in recent years. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/\"><b>Zoop India<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a cutting-edge e-catering platform that uses technology to deliver a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. It allows travelers to order meals via a user-friendly app or website. Zoop India has thousands of restaurants registered on its platform, with diverse menus featuring a wide variety of cuisines that cater to a varied dietary preferences and needs. Zoop India caters to every passenger&#8217;s demands, from vegetarian and non-vegetarian selections to pure Jain meals. Follow the link to explore options for ordering Jain food on train using Zoop: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/jain-food-in-train\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/jain-food-in-train<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/25-June-1200x630-for-content2-.webp\" alt=\"Zoop India - A game-changer for ordering meals on train\" width=\"1024\" height=\"720\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Did you know? &#8211;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/use-google-chat-to-check-pnr-order-food-on-train\">How you could use\u00a0<strong>Zoop&#8217;s Google Chat<\/strong>\u00a0to Check PNR Status &amp; Order Food on Train Too<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Prefer to read in Hindi? &#8211;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/%e0%a4%97%e0%a5%82%e0%a4%97%e0%a4%b2-%e0%a4%9a%e0%a5%88%e0%a4%9f-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%9c%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%a8%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%82-%e0%a4%85%e0%a4%aa%e0%a4%a8\"><strong>\u0917\u0942\u0917\u0932 \u091a\u0948\u091f<\/strong> \u0926\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u093e \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0947\u0902 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u093e PNR \u0938\u094d\u091f\u0947\u091f\u0938 \u0914\u0930 \u0915\u0930\u0947\u0902 <strong>\u091f\u094d\u0930\u0947\u0928 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0916\u093e\u0928\u093e<\/strong> \u092d\u0940 \u0911\u0930\u094d\u0921\u0930<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Explore_Zoop\"><\/span><strong>Explore Zoop<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoop India&#8217;s unique features include real-time order tracking, food delivery on schedule, and cashless transactions. In addition, the platform prioritizes food safety and hygiene by collaborating only with restaurants approved by IRCTC and FSSAI and adhering to high quality requirements. Train passengers can now enjoy restaurant-quality meals, diverse menu choices, and hassle-free service throughout their journey thanks to Zoop India. Additionally, in case you are traveling in a group, you can also order food on train in bulk using Zoop. Follow the link to place your group food order with Zoop: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/group-food-order-in-train\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/group-food-order-in-train<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Zoop, you can place your order by following some simple steps on the Zoop India website (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or you can download the Zoop India app from<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/fGC622\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Play Store<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/order-food-in-trains-zoop\/id6445911264\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">iOS Store<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Additionally, with Zoop, you can also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/order-food-in-train-on-whatsapp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">order food on train using WhatsApp<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> messaging, by sending \u201cHi\u201d to +91 7042062070 on WhatsApp, as well as by using the latest Google Chat Feature, where you can simply open the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=zoop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google search bar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, type &#8220;Zoop,&#8221; and click on the &#8220;Chat with a live agent&#8221; option to place your order by mere chatting!<\/span>In addition to ordering meals on trains, Zoop also lets passengers check their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/check-train-time-table\">train schedule<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/check-train-time-table\">https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/check-train-time-table<\/a>), coach position (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/check-train-coach-position\">https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/check-train-coach-position<\/a>) or PNR number (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/check-pnr-status\">https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/check-pnr-status<\/a>) for a convenient and worry-free travel experience.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1579 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/25-June-1200x630-for-content3-.webp\" alt=\"train food delivery for dinner on train\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><b>Conclusion<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The evolution of ordering meals on trains in Indian Railways has come a long way, from the simple homemade meals on steel thalis to ordering your favorite food on train from top-restaurants along the route using Zoop India! So, get familiar with Zoop India and transform your train experience with yummy meals on train and hassle-free passenger-friendly services. Happy Journey!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/order-food-in-trains-zoop\/id6445911264\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1498\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/New-orange-Google-Apple-1080x90-final-cta-1.webp\" alt=\"Zoop App\" width=\"1080\" height=\"90\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the culinary nostalgia of your grandparents&#8217; train journeys in India and unlock the full potential of modern innovations for ordering meals on trains!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[137,205,136,138,142,99,1,227,14,141,100],"tags":[232,28,223,231,94,118,194,230,43],"class_list":["post-1556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-catering","category-google-train-food-ordering","category-indian-railways","category-irctc","category-popular-stations","category-special-trains-list","category-zoop-train-food-delivery-service","category-train-journey","category-travel-tips","category-whatsapp-train-food-ordering","category-zoop-app","tag-evolution-of-meals-on-train","tag-food-in-train","tag-indian-railways","tag-irctc","tag-irctc-e-catering","tag-jain-food-delivery-in-train","tag-jain-meals","tag-ordering-meals-on-train","tag-zoop-india"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1556"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1581,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1556\/revisions\/1581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoopindia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}