Rajdhani Express Services are still very poor

I recently undertook a journey to Secunderabad from Delhi (Nizamuddin) on 9th January. PNR:2733448968. Train No.:22692/SBC Rajdhani Express.Train was On Time(Nizamuddin was starting point) but was running slow all the time and between Agra & Itarsi the train was delayed further and was running 4 hours late. As usual a late running train is always delayed further. Expected Time of Arrival at Secunderabad was 5:00 p.m. & IRCTC Catering being enclosed and oblivious of late running of train went ahead providing Dinner to Bengaluru Passengers only around 8:15 p.m. Then when desert (same old vanila) was served the steward offered us (myself, wife & my son), I asked him why dinner was not served for which the reply was: Sir after 5:00 p.m. Secunderabad passengers deboarding time we get meals only for passengers travelling to Bengaluru. My elder son in Delhi complained on Rail Madad & immediately they sent us Dal & Rice with pickle packet. And then immediately they asked us to take back the complaint. We finally reached Secunderabad 6 hrs 30 mnts late at 11:30 p.m.
We had a repeat of it on return journey PNR:4340923283: Train No.22691-Ksr Bengaluru-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani. Through Local Circles ask some Rail Minister to Travel & see the quantum of food. In our 24 hours journey, we had same Menu for Dinner & Lunch & on return journey too same Menu. Food Parcels come from Itarsi - IRCTC Food Service stamp on the deliveries. So what is the use of Pantry? Only to serve break-fast? Same incident of late running of return journey where the train compartment of 2 AC was just having 15% occupancy. Some passengers alighted at Ballarshah & many at Nagpur & still others at Bhopal. Bhopal passengers were about a dozen who boarded. Train to reach Delhi at 5:00 A.M. ran late by 4 hours 15 minutes. A repeat again, No Tea or Breakfast was served. When I raised a complaint by Tweet. Immediately the steward came searcing for our number with a Flask & 3 cups. Railways have recruited some MBA good English speaking gentry to do explanations and for this complaint also a guy came laying the blame squarely on Steward as being New & Untrained and he had slept off somewhere and could not be reached so Tea was not served. He showed me an Audio Clip in his mobile in which some instruction was being issued to all vendors to serve tea from the pantry. I immediately guessed it as a fabricated one because in Rajdhani the tea kit is served and not prepared tea. Even a week after my complaint to IRCTC, they are keeping mum. I am sharing this for general public information that don't trust Railways for long journeys. The quantum of food is insufficient for a grown up person: 2 Chappatis, Dal, 100 gms curd & rice (just 50 gms). And if the train is late, you don't even get this. more  

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I had a detailed discussion regarding this on one of my recent journeys, I asked why cant you give proper food, they say that corruption in tenders and also free meals to most on duty staff!!!! more  
IRCTC satellite kitchens, especially when app based meal options becoming available, seem obsolete. Kitchens owned by the railways, augmented by the abovementioned private caterers running through apps should be the explored. A reserve base quality parameter too needed against which contenders get approved, before privatising catering. Centralised food production, while decentrising it's service, adding value with location or season specific optimisations - Mango pulp flavoured dessert during season as after meal, while other times one can serve mango flavoured dessert. Food service requires detailing. Corruption seems obviously rampant under the current system. more  
You are absolutely right sir. You have raised the complaint and got a little remission. But all people like you suffered. Unfortunately they didn't get any food or tea. IRCTC or Ministry of Railways should feel such complaint put to them not for one but for others also. But they do not care. Actually the service is going in a empty box decorated beautifully out side which we called ADVERTISEMENT. PLEASE FEEL TO TAKE CARE FOR ALL PASSENGERS AS THEY ALL PAID MONEY. more  
I think the services were very good as long as the catering was with the Railways. The things have started detiorating ever since the IRCTC have come in picture. They do not have an organization like base kitchens and cooking staff of their own. They wholly depend on their contractors, who have no interest in serving the people, they are only intersted in making money. Catering with Railways was far better. Initially Shatabdi and Rajdhani service was also good but with time it has detirioated. Same will happen to the Vande Bharat also. The solution lies that Railways should take away the catering from the IRCTC and start its own network and base kitchens. The contractors should be thrown away. In most of the long distance tarins we find untrained staff, wearing shabby foul smelling dress. The quality of food is horrible. The ready made tea does not taste like tea. It is always cold and tasteless. Railways must take some action if it wants to improve its image amongst the travelling people. more  
These problems are very frequent and are worsening specially food supply. Overcharging is well crafted. more  
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