Experience flight-like options on Vande Bharat soon; Read to know more

Indian Railways is taking the travel experience on Vande Bharat trains to new heights with the introduction of a new scheme aimed at enhancing passenger services. 

The Railways has launched a pilot project called Yatri Seva Anubandh (YSA) in the Southern Railway, covering six pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains, as part of its efforts to bring about a qualitative shift in on-board services.

The Railway Board has stated in a memorandum that the pilot program is designed to improve the passenger experience by offering a wider range of food and beverage options, as well as additional value-added services such as concierge services, on-board entertainment, and access to travel essentials and accessories. The goal is to shift the focus towards service outcomes through a passenger-driven performance appraisal system and a comprehensive evaluation of the services provided.

In accordance with the latest program, the Railways will offer concierge amenities, including cab arrival/departure, wheelchair and buggy drive assistance, to passengers at the starting/ending stations.

As per the information provided, the contractor will assign one housekeeping staff member to each coach, and these individuals must have received training from institutions accredited under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana or by the All India Institute of Local Self Government, New Delhi, or any other government-recognized training institute in cleaning, hospitality, or housekeeping work.

The passengers will have access to an exclusive food menu that offers a wide range of dishes. The food will be prepared and sourced from ISO-certified base kitchens, which are monitored by CCTV. Additionally, the food packs will have QR codes for easy identification. In addition to ordering on board, passengers will also have the option to pre-order meals at the time of booking their tickets or through the Yatri Seva app. It is important to note that beef and pork will not be included in any of the food items.

As per the information received, in order to maintain high standards of service, the Railways have mandated that contractors must have at least one individual with a degree or diploma in Hospitality, Hotel Management, or Catering deployed exclusively for Food & Beverage services on each train. The YSA Manager, who must have three years of experience in the hospitality industry, will also be a graduate.

Additionally, tobacco products and alcoholic beverages will not be available for sale. The routes currently served by Vande Bharat trains are Chennai-Mysore, Chennai-Tirunelveli, Chennai-Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod, and Chennai-Vijayawada. The sixth route has not been determined yet.

According to a senior railway official, the Vande Bharat train is a revolutionary addition to the Indian Railways. With the implementation of YSA, the on-board services will be elevated to international standards, providing passengers with a delightful experience similar to that of the aviation industry. The Southern Railway is proud to be the pilot project for this initiative, and it is worth noting that the first Vande Bharat train was created at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.

In order to guarantee the standard of food, the Railways have stated that one of the requirements for catering contractors is to have a minimum average workforce of 1,800 employees, with at least 900 of them involved in food and beverage and/or housekeeping services during the previous fiscal year. This condition will be verified through audit reports and provident fund contributions.

The bidder must possess a functional ISO 22000-2005 certified kitchen in Chennai that can produce a minimum of 1,500 meals per day. Additionally, they must provide evidence of supplying 90,000 meals in any of the four quarters preceding 2022-23.