Swiggy’s Food on Train Expands to 180+ Cities as Summer Orders Triple; Rotis, Mango Shakes Lead the Way
India’s train journeys are increasingly becoming a chance to enjoy restaurant-style meals, and the latest numbers from Swiggy suggest that more passengers are choosing freshly prepared food over traditional pantry options.
The food delivery platform has expanded its Food on Train service to more than 180 cities across India after adding 17 new railway stations to its network this summer. The expansion comes alongside a sharp rise in demand, with orders placed through the service growing three times year-on-year during the April-June 2026 quarter.
One of the biggest changes this travel season has been the growing popularity of ordering food at multiple stations during a single journey. Such bookings increased by more than 300% compared to last year, with passengers spending over twice as much as those who placed an order at only one station. The Bhopal-Nagpur route emerged as the country’s busiest two-stop food trail, with more than 1,300 travellers ordering meals at both stations on the same PNR.
Swiggy also introduced a ‘Scan Your Ticket’ feature this summer, allowing passengers to upload their train ticket so the app can automatically detect the PNR and display available restaurants along the journey. According to the company, many travellers are now planning ahead, with some placing their meal orders up to four days before departure.
When it came to what India was eating on the move, the humble roti topped the charts. More than 4 lakh rotis were ordered during the summer, ranging from tawa roti and butter roti to tandoori roti and phulka. Masala dosa, aloo paratha and the McAloo Tikki Burger were also among the most popular choices, while chicken biryani remained the country’s favourite non-vegetarian dish.
The summer heat also influenced beverage choices. Mango Shake emerged as the season’s biggest winner, recording nearly ten times more orders than during winter. Soft drink orders increased by 354%, lassi orders doubled, and ice cream orders jumped by 140%, reflecting travellers’ preference for cooling refreshments on long journeys.
Food preferences varied across regions. North Indian travellers largely chose rotis with rich curries, burgers and parathas, while dosa remained a favourite in the South. Andhra Pradesh continued its love affair with biryani, with nearly one in every five items ordered at Vijayawada being a biryani. In eastern India, thalis, fried rice and rice bowls dominated, while passengers travelling towards Goa made burgers the most ordered item at Madgaon Junction, overtaking biryani.
The service is also introducing first-time users to food delivery apps. Swiggy said that at Guna in Madhya Pradesh, nearly two out of every three Food on Train customers were using a food delivery platform for the first time. Smaller towns, which the company refers to as “India Rise” stations, recorded 253% year-on-year growth, outpacing metro cities. University hubs also contributed significantly during the summer travel rush, with student orders peaking at stations such as Kharagpur, Kanpur and Aligarh as students returned to their campuses.
