In a bid to enhance passenger amenities, the Western Railway's Mumbai Central Division launched its inaugural "Restaurant on Wheels" at Andheri railway station on January 16, 2024. This initiative promises a comfortable, air-conditioned dining experience housed within repurposed rail coaches.
"The Restaurant on Wheels concept involves transforming old, unserviceable coaches into stylish restaurants mounted on wheels," said Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway. He also highlighted that this is the first of its kind in the suburban network, aiming to revolutionize the dining experience for commuters.
Western Railways in collaboration with Haldiram, the Coach Restaurant at Andheri Station boasts a seating capacity for 48 patrons and caters to both dine-in and takeaway customers, offering a convenient grab-and-go option.
Development of similar "Restaurant on Wheels" projects is underway at Borivali and Bandra stations, with a combined contract value of Rs. 5.94 crore contributing to Western Railway's Non-Fare Revenue (NFR). Plans are also in motion to introduce these innovative restaurants at Surat, Bandra Terminus, Valsad, Lower Parel, and Vasai Road stations.
Last year, a similar 'Restaurant on Wheels' was launched at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT). The initiative involved reusing an aging train coach into a dining space, strategically positioned on the front side of LTT near the parking area, so that more crowd is attracted.