Shop Inside Trains Like You Do It In Flights: On-Board Shopping Starts In These Trains!

Indian Railways has now raised the bar higher and rolled out yet another advanced facility for its customers.

In an attempt to match some airways, Indian Railways has now introduced a scheme in which customers will now be able to partake in onboard shopping.

Commencing in January 2019, passengers on some selected trains will now be able to buy beauty products, home and kitchen appliances, fitness tools and other day-to-day use products while on board.

Regarding this, a railway official said, “A catalogue will be circulated among passengers from which they can choose what they want to buy when the cart circulates. A collapsible trolley will be used by vendors so that other passengers will not be inconvenienced.”

The passengers can pay for the good they want to purchase by cash or by digital payment options too. Indian Railways further promised that passengers will not be disturbed due to this new venture.

There will be two personnel appointed by the licensed vendors as sales staff, who will be bound by a uniform, an ID card and debit card machines. Similarly, they will carry a shopping cart that can be used by the customer to make the customer experience easier.  

Limitations Put By The Indian Railways

1.  The trolleys will move around the train during a limited time period: 8 am to 9 pm.
2. Vendors will be prohibited from shouting as a marketing technique to sell their products.
3. Vendors will be able to sell only FMCG products. Sale of cigarettes, gutkha, tobacco or any other type of eatables is strictly prohibited.

More About On-Board Shopping

This initiative will debut in the Mumbai Division of Western Railway. Initially, 16 trains have been shortlisted which will further extend to other trains depending on the response of the public. The contract, of Rs. 3.66 Crore, has been given to HBN Network Private Ltd, with payment receivable fixed at every quarter of the year. At the first stage, this service will be introduced in two trains in the first phase and two trains will be added at the next phase.

Trains With Shopping Facilities

Phase 1: Train number 12925/26 Paschim Express from Bandra Terminus to Amritsar Junction

Phase 1: Train number 19027/28 Bandra Jammu Tawi Vivek Express

Phase 2: Train number 22921/22 Antyodaya Express from Bandra Terminus to Gorakhpur Junction

Phase 2: Train number 22913/14 BDTS PNBE Express from Bandra Terminus to Patna Junction

Phase 3: Train number 22949/50 Bandra Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express

Phase 3: Train number 22917/18 Haridwar Express from Bandra Terminus to Haridwar

Phase 4: Train number 12009/10 Mumbai Central Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express

Phase 4: Train number 22915/16 BDTS HSR SF Express from Bandra Terminus to Hisar

Phase 5: Train number 12907/08 Bandra Nizamuddin Sampark Kranti Express

Phase 5: Train number 19061/62 BDTS RMR Express from Bandra Terminus to Ramnagar

Phase 6: Train number 19021/22 BDTS LJN Express from Bandra Terminus to Lucknow Junction

Phase 6: Train number 22933/34 BDTS JP Express from Bandra Terminus to Jaipur

Phase 7: Train number 12909/10 Bandra Nizamuddin Garibrath Express

Phase 7: Train number 22935/36 BDTS PIT Express from Bandra Terminus to Palitana

Phase 8: Train number 22931/32 BDTS JSM Express from Bandra Terminus to Jaisalmer

Phase 8: Train number 22991/92 BDTS VRL Express from Bandra Terminus to Veraval

We wish you luck with this innovative initiative, Indian Railways, and hope that you find success with it just like the rest of your ideas.

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