Buffet car

A buffet car or café car is a passenger railroad car, where food and beverages can be bought at a counter. They provide a lower level of service than a dining car (also known as a restaurant car in some regions) where passengers are served at tables, however, they require fewer employees to staff, reducing operating costs.

British Rail Mark 1 RMB M1848 on the East Lancashire Railway

Swedish X2000 train buffet cars are mostly self-service. Customers pick their food from a shelf, pay for it, and heat it themselves in a microwave oven

An Indian railways buffet car

Sometimes a seating area is provided in the car where passengers may sit while consuming their purchase. Typically, passengers are not allowed to consume food and drinks not purchased onboard the train in these areas. Other trains lack this area and passengers are expected to return to their seats to consume the products they purchase.

See also

• British Rail coach type codes
• Buffet

Further reading

• Banger, Chris (March–July 2004). "On-train Catering in New South Wales - 1921-2001." Australian Railway History, pp102–118;123-141;188-198;222-237;264-279

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