Indian Railways begins offering regional cuisines on Vande Bharat Express trains

Here's the details of regional delicacies of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Bihar, and Kashmir that are now available on Vande Bharat trains

A new Vande Bharat Express, seen ready to embark on its first journey from Banaras in Uttar Pradesh to Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. Photo by North Eastern Railway @nerailwaygkp on X.

Indian Railways has introduced regional cuisines as a part of food served on Vande Bharat trains to further enhance passenger experience, a service that is announced to be gradually introduced in their all other trains too.

It now offers culturally relevant food and authentic local flavours on Vande Bharat Express trains, by bringing regional delicacies to the train seats, bringing the taste of India’s diverse culinary heritage to the train travellers.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, had announced just a few days back on 13 December 2025 that local cuisines will be served on Vande Bharat Express trains, based on the region that train is passing through, and added that this facility will be progressively expanded to all the Indian Railways trains, in the future.

And today on 18 December 2025, the Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India, has announced some of the regional cuisines that'll be available on Vande Bharat trains.

Regional Cuisines Available on Vande Bharat

Here's a brief look at some regional delicacies that Indian Railways has begun offering on the Vande Bharat Express trains, which are available when the trains are passing through that particular region.

Cuisines seen in the picture: Kanda Poha (top-left) of Maharashtra, Methi Thepla (top-right) of Gujarat, Masala Lauki (bottom-left) of Gujarat, Aloo Phulkopi (bottom-right) of Odisha. Photo by Ministry of Railways on PIB

If you're travelling on the 20101/20102 Nagpur–Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express, they you can savour Maharashtra’s Kanda Poha as well as South Indian Dondakaya Karam Podi Fry and Andhra Pradesh’s Andhra Kodi Kura.

Gujarati flavours are being served in the form of Methi Thepla on the 20901 MMCT–GNC Vande Bharat Express and Masala Lauki on the 26902 SBIB–VRL Vande Bharat Express. Odisha’s Aloo Phulkopi is available on the 22895 Howrah–Puri Vande Bharat Express.

Cuisines seen in the picture: Kosha Paneer (left) of West Bengal, and White Rice, Pachakka Cherupayar Mezhukku Perati, Kadala Curry, Kerala Paratha, plain curd and Palada Payasam (right), of Kerala. Photo by Ministry of Railways on PIB

Kerala’s traditional spread, including white rice, Pachakka Cherupayar Mezhukku Perati, Kadala Curry, Kerala Paratha, plain curd and Palada Payasam, along with Appam, is available on the 20633/34 Kasargod–Trivandrum Vande Bharat Express and the 20631/32 Mangalore–Trivandrum Vande Bharat Express.

West Bengal’s Kosha Paneer is being served on the 20872 ROU–HWH Vande Bharat Express and Aloo Potol Bhaja on the 22895 HWH–PURI Vande Bharat Express.

Cuisines seen in the picture: Champaran Paneer (left) of Bihar and Aloo Potol Bhaja (right) of West Bengal. Photo by Ministry of Railways on PIB

Bihar’s signature dishes such as Champaran Paneer are being served on the 22349 PNBE–RNC Vande Bharat Express, while Champaran Chicken is available on the 22348 PNBE–HWH Vande Bharat Express.

Cuisines seen in the picture: Tomato Chaman and Kesar Phirni, Kashmiri cuisine of Jammu and Kashmir. Photo by Ministry of Railways on PIB

Cuisines seen in the picture: Ambal Kaddu (left) and Jammu Channa Masala (right), cuisines of Dogri in Jammu and Kashmir. Photo by Ministry of Railways on PIB

Dogri cuisine, including Ambal Kaddu and Jammu Chana Masala, is being offered on trains 26401–02 and 26403–04, and Kashmiri specialities like Tomato Chaman and Kesar Phirni are being served on trains 26401/02 and 26403/04 SVDK–SINA Vande Bharat Express.

Cuisine seen in the picture: Masala Upma of Maharashtra. Photo by Ministry of Railways on PIB

Maharashtra’s Masala Upma is available on the 22229 CSMT–MAO Vande Bharat Express, while West Bengal’s Murgir Jhol is being served on the 22302 NJP–HWH Vande Bharat Express.

Cuisine seen in the picture: Murgir Jhol of West Bengal. Photo by Ministry of Railways on PIB

The above are the details of the regional cuisines that are now available on Vande Bharat trains, as they're now introduced for the first time on Vande Bharat Express trains, as announced by the the Ministry of Railways, today on 18 December 2025.

These items may be subject to availability and may change or be modified in the future with possibilities of more regional food being included. And as announced earlier, this regional cuisines facility is also planned to be gradually made available in all of Indian Railways trains in the future.

Through this "regional cuisines on trains" initiative, Indian Railways aims to celebrate India’s rich culinary diversity, making rail journeys more memorable and culturally immersive.

References

1. Indian Railways Enhances Passenger Experience by Bringing Regional Cuisines on Vande Bharat Trains - Ministry of Railways, on PIB - Press Information Bureau. Posted On: 18 DEC 2025 2:08PM by PIB Delhi.
2. Local Cuisine To Be Served in Vande Bharat Trains and Progressively Introduced in All Trains - Ministry of Railways, on PIB - Press Information Bureau. Posted On: 13 DEC 2025 5:34 PM by PIB Delhi