Swiggy’s Food on Train network has more than tripled since 2024, while changing passenger preferences are driving stronger demand for traditional meals, regional specialities and healthier beverages.
Swiggy is expanding its food delivery footprint on India’s railways, with its Food on Train service now available across 201 railway stations, up from 66 stations in 2024.
The expansion includes stations such as Kolhapur, Wardha, Shahdol, Kakinada, Bharatpur, Chittoor, Thanjavur, Raigarh, Jamnagar, Indore and Tundla, among others, as the food delivery company seeks to tap the growing demand for convenient meals among train travellers.
The service, launched in March 2024, has recorded multifold growth and is seeing adoption across different consumer groups, including Gen Z, according to Sidharth Bhakoo, chief business officer, Swiggy Food Marketplace.
“Food on Train has seen Multifood growth since its launch in March 2024 and has witnessed widespread adoption across various consumer cohorts, including Gen Z. We are also seeing a huge opportunity for our affordability offerings,” Bhakoo said.
Beyond expanding its network, Swiggy is also seeing a shift in what passengers choose to eat and drink during train journeys.
The company said travellers are increasingly opting for traditional and refreshing beverages over carbonated drinks. Compared with last year, orders for lassi have risen 60%, while buttermilk orders are up 40%. Mojito orders have climbed 90%, even as demand for conventional fizzy drinks has declined considerably.
Food choices are also moving toward familiar, full-meal formats. Thalis now account for more than 65% of all Food on Train orders, indicating strong demand for traditional and regional comfort food.
Desserts are gaining traction as well, with orders for sweets more than doubling. Rasgullas are leading the increase, according to Swiggy.
The platform is also highlighting how train travellers are using food delivery to access local specialities associated with the stations along their routes.
At Jaipur Junction, pyaz kachori is the top-selling item, while poha features among the top 10 breakfast choices in Bhopal. Regional biryani varieties dominate orders at several stations across South and Central India and are also among the leading choices in Lucknow, alongside Tunday galouti kebabs.
At Nagpur, Haldiram’s thalis are among the leading orders, while seafood thalis are proving popular at Madgaon in Goa.
The trends point to a growing appetite for food that reflects local tastes and familiar eating habits, even as digital ordering makes it possible for passengers to access those meals directly from their train berths.
For Swiggy, the expansion gives its food marketplace another avenue for growth beyond conventional restaurant delivery, while the changing mix of orders offers a glimpse into how India’s increasingly digital railway food ecosystem is evolving.