Swiggy Limited, India’s on-demand convenience platform, has reported a significant increase in student usage of its ‘Food on Train’ service during the summer travel season. The platform noted a marked rise in students opting for delivered meals during train journeys, with a range of food preferences and ordering behaviours emerging over the past month.
According to Swiggy, students comprised one-third of all users of the Food on Train service in May 2025. Orders ranged from local dishes such as biryani to international options including burgers, paneer tikka quesadillas, spaghetti aglio olio, seafood dishes like king fish tawa fry, and chicken kasha bhuna. Vegan and Mediterranean meals were also among the selections.
Health-focused students opted for offerings from The Good Bowl and Lunchbox, which feature simple, homestyle meals. Others favoured items from established chains such as McDonald’s, KFC, Subway, and Pizza Hut. Haldiram’s remained a consistent choice for those seeking variety.
Swiggy highlighted instances of students placing large group orders, such as a single student at Bhopal Junction who placed an order for 30 thalis for a group travelling on the Gondwana Superfast Express, spending ₹6,070.
Nagpur railway station was identified as the most common location for food orders, due to its central position on routes connecting major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
Engineering students accounted for 70% of all student orders. Institutions with the highest number of users included IIT Kharagpur, IIT BHU Varanasi, and Vellore Institute of Technology.
Swiggy noted that many students utilised Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and other credit-based options to manage their travel expenses.
The data also revealed flexible ordering patterns, with students placing orders from early morning to late at night. Around 20% placed multiple orders during a single journey, with some ordering dinner at one station and dessert at the next.
Commenting on the trend, Mr. Deepak Maloo, Vice President, Food Strategy, Customer Experience & New Initiatives, Swiggy, said, “Students are really loving Swiggy's Food on Train service! They're ordering everything from different cuisines to late-night snacks, and even big group meals. This huge demand from students is inspiring Swiggy to keep improving the onboard dining experience and focus on delivering the meals students want, whenever and wherever they are on their journey.”
Swiggy’s partnership with IRCTC and its availability across more than 100 railway stations reflects its intention to expand its services for train travellers. The offering includes seat delivery, cutlery, and access to a range of meal options from a large number of brands.
