Buffet car

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

A buffet car (British English) or café car (American English) is a passenger railroad car, where food and beverages can be purchased at a counter.^[1] It offers a lower level of service than a dining car (also called a restaurant car in some regions), where passengers are served at tables, but requires fewer staff, reducing operating costs.

Some buffet or café cars include a seating area where passengers can consume their purchases. Typically, passengers are not allowed to eat or drink items brought from elsewhere. On trains without a seating area, passengers are expected to return to their seats to consume any onboard purchases.

See also

• Bar car
• British Rail coach type codes
• Buffet
• Lounge car

References

1. The American Railroad Passenger Car - John H. White, Jr.. p. 333.

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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