Aircraft-like shopping on Indian Railways trains to introduce from Jan 2019 ! buy FMCG goods on these trains

Now passengers can Shop on Indian Railways trains. Indian railway is gearing up  to offer aircraft-like shopping experience to its passengers soon.Railway Minister  Piyush Goyal  has come up with a new plan that will allow people to buy items of everyday use. FMCG items under the category of beauty, home & kitchen appliances and some  fitness products are to be sold inside the train.

The shop on board trains is likely to be commenced  from January 2019.The pilot project has been implemented by the  Mumbai division of Western Railway  which may be extended  to other trains across the network,depending upon  the feedback from passengers.

For initial phase, 16 Express trains have been shortlisted by the national transporter for which the contract has already been awarded to HBN Network Private Limited for 5 years term. The total contract is of Rs 3.66 crore and the payment shall be r eleased on a quarterly basis.

Under the agreement, the licensee has been allowed by Indian Railways to sell FMCG goods under the category of beauty, home & kitchen appliances and other fitness products. Selling of  cigarettes, gutka, tobacco or any type of eatable are not  allowed  under the contract. The licensee will depute two sales staffs  with uniform, company ID and debit card machines in trains. A “shopping cart” will be used by the licensee’s staff to make the shopping experience easier and smart for the passengers. As like in Aircraft, a catalogue will be distributed among passengers, allowing them to select from  the various options. The sales staff will then selling items based on the demand.

Below is the full list of Indian Railways trains in which passengers can soon shop!

1. Phase 1: Train number 12925/26 Paschim Express from Bandra Terminus to Amritsar Junction
2. Phase 1: Train number 19027/28 Bandra Jammu Tawi Vivek Express
3. Phase 2: Train number 22921/22 Antyodaya Express from Bandra Terminus to Gorakhpur Junction
4. Phase 2: Train number 22913/14 BDTS PNBE Express from Bandra Terminus to Patna Junction
5. Phase 3: Train number 22949/50 Bandra Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express
6. Phase 3: Train number 22917/18 Haridwar Express from Bandra Terminus to Haridwar
7. Phase 4: Train number 12009/10 Mumbai Central Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express
8. Phase 4: Train number 22915/16 BDTS HSR SF Express from Bandra Terminus to Hisar
9. Phase 5: Train number 12907/08 Bandra Nizamuddin Sampark Kranti Express
10. Phase 5: Train number 19061/62 BDTS RMR Express from Bandra Terminus to Ramnagar
11. Phase 6: Train number 19021/22 BDTS LJN Express from Bandra Terminus to Lucknow Junction
12. Phase 6: Train number 22933/34 BDTS JP Express from Bandra Terminus to Jaipur
13. Phase 7: Train number 12909/10 Bandra Nizamuddin Garibrath Express
14. Phase 7: Train number 22935/36 BDTS PIT Express from Bandra Terminus to Palitana
15. Phase 8: Train number 22931/32 BDTS JSM Express from Bandra Terminus to Jaisalmer
16. Phase 8: Train number 22991/92 BDTS VRL Express from Bandra Terminus to Veraval

To ensure the passengers not get disturbed , Indian Railways has restricted the timing for sale of items from 8 AM to 9 PM. Furthermore, the sales persons will not be allowed to make any loud promotional activity on board the trains. The project will be implemented in multiple phases. Every three months there will be addition of  two trains (mentioned in the list above).

Indian Railways staff will avail a 10% discount on all items in the shopping cart if produce  a valid identity card!