Passengers traveling on Vande Bharat trains in Kerala show the highest demand for non-vegetarian breakfasts compared to other Southern Railway routes. On May 31, the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod Vande Bharat served 411 non-veg breakfasts, closely followed by the Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram train with 398 orders. The MGR Chennai Central-Mysuru route ranked third with 197 non-veg breakfasts.

Other routes like Tirunelveli-Chennai Egmore and Coimbatore-Chennai Central served 173 and 77 non-veg breakfasts respectively, while the Chennai-Vijayawada route recorded the lowest with 35 orders.

Key insights:

  • Non-veg breakfasts, typically bread toast and omelette, are preferred over vegetarian options like idli-sambar or roti.

  • Many passengers buy breakfast onboard due to early departures, while some carry their own food to reduce costs.

  • The use of automatic doors on trains prevents food purchases during stops, making onboard catering essential.

  • Despite demand, concerns persist about food quality, especially after a recent hygiene scandal involving a railway contractor’s kitchen.

  • Passengers in Kerala mostly travel between Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Thrissur, and Ernakulam, not necessarily covering the entire route.

  • Food is pre-prepared and reheated on the train, but taste quality remains a challenge for Railways.

  • With plans to launch Vande Bharat sleeper trains from Thiruvananthapuram to Bengaluru, travelers are calling for improvements in food standards.