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Food ordering through Swiggy’s Food on Train service has seen a significant surge over the past two years, with the offering recording 12x growth between August 2024 and August 2026. Adoption in Tier II and Tier III markets has grown twice as fast as in metro cities during the period. The service has also expanded its reach to 201 railway stations, up from 66 stations in 2024.
To make ordering during train journeys faster and more convenient, Swiggy has introduced two new product features. The first, ‘Search by Train’, allows users to enter their train number or train name and instantly access food options mapped to their specific route and schedule, eliminating the need to browse through conventional restaurant filters.
The company has also introduced the ‘99 Store Widget’, a dedicated section on the app that enables passengers to quickly discover budget friendly meal options, making affordable food choices more accessible during long journeys.
Swiggy has also highlighted evolving food preferences among train travellers. Compared with last year, orders for lassi have increased by 60%, buttermilk by 40% and mojitos by 90%, while demand for regular fizzy drinks has declined. Thalis account for more than 65% of train food orders, while sweet orders have grown 110%, led by rasgullas.
Speaking on the growth of the Food on Train offering, Sidharth Bhakoo, Chief Business Officer, Swiggy Food Marketplace said, “Over the years, online food delivery has evolved from being used during special occasions to serving a wider set of use cases. We are seeing consumers increasingly embrace convenience across diverse moments. Food on Train is a strong example of how technology is creating entirely new consumption occasions, with travellers not only planning meals around their journeys, but also using the opportunity to discover regional favourites along the way. Food on Train has seen multifold 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 and have launched a special widget for 99 Store. As consumer behaviours evolve, the opportunity for the food ecosystem lies in making every consumption moment more convenient, accessible and relevant to the consumer.”
Expanding its presence across more railway stations, Swiggy has added Kolhapur, Wardha, Shahdol, Kakinada, Bharatpur, Chittoor, Thanjavur, Raigarh, Jamnagar, Indore and Tundla to its Food on Train network.
The growing network is also reflecting strong demand for regional flavours, with travellers increasingly ordering local specialties during their journeys. Station level sales data shows that Pyaz Kachori is the top selling item at Jaipur Junction, while Poha features among the top 10 breakfast orders in Bhopal.
Biryani variants account for a significant share of orders at stations across South and Central India and also rank among the leading choices in Lucknow, alongside Tunday Galouti Kebabs. In Nagpur, Haldiram’s thalis are among the most ordered meals, while seafood thalis feature prominently among orders at Madgaon in Goa.
