Indian Railways to offer refunds, free meals for delayed trains; all you need to know

With the winter season already here, train delays are also something that turns into a routine thing due to dense fog, reduced visibility, causing significant disruptions. Meanwhile, to ensure that the railway passengers don’t face much of a hassle, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will start providing special services to all those travelling on premium trains, like Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Duronto Express.

Under the IRCTC catering policy, those travelling on these trains will get free meals if their train is delayed by two or more hours beyond its scheduled arrival time. And as per the policy, depending on the time of day, passengers can expect a variety of meal options designed to cater to their needs. Here's a breakdown of what passengers can look forward to.

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Tea/coffee service: To start the journey, passengers are offered a comforting cup of tea or coffee, accompanied by biscuits. Each tea/coffee service comes with a kit that includes sugar or sugar-free sachets and milk creamer, ensuring that everyone’s preferences are met.

Breakfast or evening tea: For breakfast or evening tea, passengers can enjoy a simple yet satisfying meal. The set typically includes four slices of bread (either white or brown), butter, a 200ml fruit drink, and a cup of tea or coffee. This light yet energizing option ensures that passengers have something to start their day or refresh them during the evening hours.


Lunch or dinner: With an emphasis on wholesome, well-balanced meals, the IRCTC provides a variety of lunch and dinner alternatives. Rice with chole (gramme), rajma, or yellow dal are popular options. Pickle sachets are served with every meal to enhance its flavour. As an alternative, travellers can savour seven pooris with pickle sachets, mixed veggies, salt, and pepper, offering a range of choices to accommodate varying palates.

Refunds for extended delays

In cases of significant delays, Indian Railways also has in place a customer-friendly policy. In cases, when the train is delayed by more than three hours or rerouted, passengers of those trains are eligible for a full refund on ticket cancellations. All the affected Passengers can cancel their tickets through the original booking channel to claim their refund. For those who have booked tickets at a railway counter, cancellation must be done in person to receive a refund in cash.

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Additional passenger comforts

Beyond meals and refunds, Indian Railways provides additional facilities to ensure passenger comfort during delays. Beyond meals and refunds, Indian Railways also provides additional facilities to ensure passengers remain comfortable if delays happen. Waiting rooms are available at no extra charge, to ensure that they have a comfortable environment while waiting for their trains. Food stalls at railway stations will remain open for extended hours, especially for late-night travellers. Additionally, extra personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will be deployed to ensure safety of passengers.