Rajdhani Express. Is the food free even for the 3rd AC travellers?

"How many Rajdhani Express trains are running in India?" someone asked. I found out. There are currently a total of 24 Rajdhani Express trains running on various routes in India. 

"What is the speed of Rajdhani?" Rajdhani Express was designed to run at a maximum speed of 130 km/hr.

The first ever Rajdhani Express ran between Howrah(Kolkata - then known as Calcutta) to New Delhi on 3rd March 1969 covering a distance of 1450 km in 17 hours 20 minutes.

The Mumbai- Delhi Rajdhani Express fare for 1st AC is INR 4350/- , for 2nd AC is INR 3555/-, 3rd AC is INR 2560/- . While booking online there would be bank transaction charges & regular taxes added at the time of checking out. The distance between Mumbai-Delhi is approximately 1400 kms. 1384 kms to be precise. Fares for other routes can be estimated similarly. 

Is the food in Rajdhani free?
Yes, it is absolutely free irrespective of the class you are travelling in. 1st, 2nd or 3rd Class AC passengers get everything free. Starting from a water bottle with a cup, just after the train has started moving to snacks, tea, coffee, extra sugar, meals, spreadsheet+blanket+pillow etc. everything is free. You will probably get either some dessert or ice-cream just after dinner - free!

1) Check the below pics - water bottle

Rajdhani Express water bottle

pic 2 & 3--> Snacks with tea(tea-bag, hot-water, milk powder, samosa, stirrer, 1 muffin pack, sauce)

Rajdhani Express snacks

3)Tea + snacks

Rajdhani Express Tea snacks

4) Meals

Rajdhani Express Dinner

Passengers of Rajdhani Express:-

There is not much of a difference as far as passengers are concerned. Regular citizens which we come across in our life. Everyday. Some of the passengers are too conscious of the fact that they are travelling in a Rajdhani. They try hard to flaunt the fact that they are travelling via the Rajdhani Express. Too desperate to show off. Show off to whom? To the people who are also travelling in the same train with them. This can make one feel perplexed.

Some go the extra yard & flaunt their 'Rajdhani Express travelling experience' while talking to people on phone.

I believe long back a Rajdhani ticket of any class used to be a symbol of status. In those times the tickets of Rajdhani express were very costly. Flight tickets were also very costly. Only the privileged used to travel in the Rajdhani. However nowadays, if you have managed to book your flight tickets in advance, your flight tickets could be cheaper than Rajdhani Express tickets.

First time traveler-

You will also find the typical guy who has probably boarded the Rajdhani for the first time. He will make it clear via his mannerisms. For instance his language will make everyone look at him through the corner of their eyes. Or he will be checking WhatsApp status videos or Tiktok videos loudly without using earphones which will make people around him cringe. 

Then if the train's IRCTC staff is distributing snacks/water bottles & he missed it or probably the tray in which all the bottles/snacks were being ferried was emptied just before reaching him, it will be like his world has started to fall apart. He will put on a spectacle. He will remain restless, continuously looking in the direction in which the 'delivery boy' went to replenish his stock. Before that guy has reached his berth he will thrust out his hands saying, "I did not get the free water/snacks". This will make even the boy smirk. 

You will not miss the company of people who keep on commenting & giving you regular updates about which train was halted to let Rajdhani pass.