How to Order Food in Train via IRCTC e-Catering

Gone are the days when you had to survive on platform food or stale pantry car meals during long train journeys. IRCTC's e-Catering service lets you order from restaurants near upcoming stations and get fresh meals delivered right to your berth. Here's how it works.

How IRCTC e-Catering Works

The concept is simple:

1. Your train stops at a station for a few minutes


2. A delivery person from a local restaurant meets your coach at the platform


3. They hand you the food you ordered


4. You pay online in advance

The entire process is coordinated through IRCTC's e-Catering platform. Restaurants near the station prepare the food, and IRCTC manages the logistics.

How to Order

Method 1: IRCTC e-Catering Website

1. Go to ecatering.irctc.co.in
2. Enter your PNR number
3. The system shows your train route with all upcoming stations
4. Select the station where you want delivery
5. Browse available restaurants and menus at that station
6. Select items and add to cart
7. Pay online (UPI, cards, net banking)
8. You'll get an SMS confirmation with the delivery person's contact number
9. At the station, the food is delivered to your coach/berth

Method 2: Call 1323

Dial 1323 from your registered mobile number:

1. Follow the IVR prompts


2. Provide your PNR number


3. Select the station and menu options


4. Confirm the order


5. Payment can be Cash on Delivery (COD)

This is useful for people who aren't comfortable with online ordering or don't have internet access on the train.

Method 3: SMS Ordering

Send an SMS to 139 with "MEAL" followed by your PNR number. Follow the instructions in the reply to place an order.

Method 4: WhatsApp

Some zones support ordering via WhatsApp. Check the IRCTC e-Catering website for the latest WhatsApp number.

Available Stations

E-Catering is available at 450+ stations across India. Major stations and junctions where trains have a halt of 5+ minutes are covered. The system automatically shows you only the stations on your route where delivery is available.

Some well-served stations:

• New Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna


• Mumbai (all terminals), Pune, Nagpur, Surat


• Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam


• Kolkata, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar


• Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Indore

What's on the Menu?

Menus vary by station and restaurant. Typically you'll find:

• North Indian thalis (dal, roti, rice, sabzi, salad)
• South Indian meals (idli, dosa, vada, rice plates)
• Biryani (Hyderabad stations have excellent options)
• Fast food (burgers, pizza, wraps from chains like Domino's, Burger King, Pizza Hut)
• Snacks (samosa, pakora, sandwiches)
• Breakfast items (poha, upma, paratha)
• Beverages (tea, coffee, juices, water)
• Regional specialties (pav bhaji at Mumbai stations, chole bhature at Delhi, Kolkata biryani)

Prices are similar to local restaurant rates. A full thali typically costs ₹150-250. Fast food items are at standard chain pricing.

Delivery Experience

The delivery person is assigned to your order. They know your:

• Coach number


• Berth number


• Train number


• The exact station stop

At the station, they locate your coach on the platform and either call you or come to your berth. The food is in sealed packaging with the restaurant name and order details.

Timing: The delivery happens during the train's halt at the station. If the halt is 5 minutes, the delivery person reaches your coach within the first 2-3 minutes. You need to be near the door or tell your co-passengers to receive it. What if the train is late? If the train arrives late at the station, the delivery person waits. If the train skips the station (rare, during heavy delays), the order is cancelled and refunded.

Tips for Ordering

Order at least 2 hours before the station stop. The restaurants need time to prepare the food. Last-minute orders might not be accepted. Choose stations with longer halts. If the train stops for 15-20 minutes at a junction, that's the safest bet for delivery. A 2-minute halt is too risky — the delivery person might not reach your coach in time. Check reviews before ordering. The e-Catering platform shows restaurant ratings. Stick to restaurants with 4+ star ratings for quality assurance. Be near the door during the station stop. Don't be in the upper berth sleeping when the delivery person is looking for you on the platform. Set an alarm if needed. Keep your phone on. The delivery person calls you when they're at the platform. If you don't answer, they can't find you. Order from branded chains for consistency. Domino's pizza or Haldiram's snacks are the same quality everywhere. Local restaurants can be hit or miss.

Payment Options

Method	Available Online?	Available for Phone Order?
UPI	Yes	No
Debit/Credit Card	Yes	No
Net Banking	Yes	No
Cash on Delivery	Yes (select stations)	Yes

COD (Cash on Delivery) is available at some stations. Keep exact change ready — delivery people may not have change for large denominations.

Complaints and Refunds

If the food isn't delivered or the quality is poor:

1. Call 1323 and lodge a complaint


2. Use the e-Catering website's complaint section


3. Provide your order number and PNR


4. Refunds for non-delivery are processed within 7 days

IRCTC takes food complaints seriously. Restaurants with repeated complaints are removed from the platform.

Alternatives to E-Catering

If e-Catering isn't available at your station, you still have options:

• Platform vendors: Every station has food stalls. Quality varies.


• Pantry car: Long-distance trains have on-board pantry cars with basic meals.


• Carry your own food: The most reliable option for dietary restrictions.


• Third-party apps: Apps like RailRestro and Zomato also deliver to trains at select stations.

E-Catering has genuinely improved the train food experience. You're not stuck with whatever the pantry car serves — you can have biryani from a Hyderabad restaurant or pizza from Domino's delivered to your berth. Check your route's e-Catering options on indianrail.app while planning your journey.