Report

Premium train, premium price — but expired juice? Passengers on the Mangaluru–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express were left shocked after being served beverages past their expiry date. On Thursday, railway staff served juice packets that had expired on March 24, nearly two months ago, to passengers travelling from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram. The incident has ignited public backlash over food safety standards on one of India’s flagship trains.

Recurring Hygiene Concerns Ignored

This isn’t the first time Vande Bharat’s catering services have come under fire. Earlier, a report exposed poor hygiene conditions at the Kochi-based catering unit responsible for meal preparation. Despite the revelations, Indian Railways has yet to implement any visible corrective measures. Passengers, frustrated by repeated lapses, criticised the Railways for continuing to ignore serious concerns. “We pay more expecting quality, not negligence,” a passenger remarked. Many accused the authorities of disregarding safety and treating public complaints with indifference.

Trust on Track? Not Quite

Even as the Railways promote Vande Bharat as a symbol of modern travel, such lapses like serving expired juice are damaging public trust. The incident highlights an urgent need for stricter oversight and accountability in onboard catering, especially on high-end services like Vande Bharat.

Source: Mathrubhumi