China’s bullet trains to extend catering services to online platform

World
Europe

China Railway Corp says it will build a “fair and open” online platform accessible to qualified suppliers, which aims to offer passengers more personalized meal options on high-speed trains.

The price of meals on bullet trains has been a heated topic among Chinese netizens as local media exposed a “hidden rule” on attendants of trains to keep affordable food hidden from passengers. In fact, there were years of complaints from passengers about the exorbitantly priced but low-quality microwaved lunchboxes.

In addition, local railway bureaus do not have a unified standard on meal options and pricing, which fuels public skepticism of the oversight problem since the price of meals on trains is supervised by the railway authority.

VCG Photo

Meals on high-speed trains in China are often sold at a price between 40 yuan (5.8 US dollar) and 65 yuan (9.45 US dollar), however, the cheapest meal, costing a mere 15 yuan (2.2 US dollar) is also available. However, attendants often try to sell meals priced above 40 yuan, while hiding cheaper options from passengers.

Internet users have expressed anger about the news and shared their similar experiences. Some said train attendants never informed passengers that a 15 yuan meal was available until asked.

China Railway Corp, the operator of the country’s high-speed railway system, released a statement on Tuesday night announcing plans to introduce more food suppliers by adopting an “Internet Plus” model. The statement added that suppliers do not need to be companies subordinate to the 18 local railway bureaus. However, it did not give a specific timetable of implementing the plan.

A spokesman for the China Railway Corp told the newspaper China Daily that the meals provided on trains are not for profit.

"The catering service is offered as a basic service, not a pure business act that mainly looks for profit," he said. "We are currently speeding up the technical preparation for realizing the new plan... to make it possible for passengers to order meals online as soon as possible."