1979
From the hard seat version of the dining car to the soft seat version of the dining car, from the smell of the chimney to the change without smoke, from the new China's first dining car design in 1953 to the 1980s and 1990s of the last century, to the convenience of high-speed rail dining bar in the new era. Train dining cars have brought a special taste mark to the journey of Chinese people for generations.
Do you know what meals were served on Chinese trains in the past? What does a dining car look like? Let's continue to read and learn the changes and histories of dining cars on China’s trains.
1980
The Original Dining Car and Food on Train
In the 1950s and 1960s, senior experts and cultural celebrities were the guests of dining cars, and ordinary people were afraid to enter the dining car. When the era of the train into the 70s and 80s, a part of the passengers began to walk into the dining car. At that time, dining cars were simply decorated with white tablecloths and vinegar and sauce jars on the tables.
In the early 1980s, lunch boxes in dining cars were served in "rectangular open-topped aluminum lunchboxes," and the dishes were simply covered rice. Boxed lunches are placed in the rice car like a brick wall and sold from car to car for only 30 cents each. Boxed lunches are placed in the rice cart and sold carriage by carriage for only 30 cents each, with two or three hundred sold per train. After the meal point, the dining car attendants will go from car to car to retrieve the lunch boxes, clean and disinfect them, and then reuse them. Two or three hundred copies are sold in each car. After the meal point, the dining car attendants will go from car to car to retrieve the lunch boxes, clean and disinfect them, and then re-use them.
1989
A Complete Renovation of the Dining Car
In the late 1990s, the old green car gradually phased out, the environment on dining car greatly improved. With the electrification of the transformation, the dining car from the original "coal stove" into an induction cooker, the original ice refrigerators have also become electronical refrigerators. At the same time, the car also equipped with the lampblack machine. There won’t have soot and black smoke when the cook is cooking. The environment already became clean and sanitary. The train dining car has also added a commissary, passengers travel in the choice of box lunch at the same time also have more choices.
In the 21st century, the food of the dining car has become more varied. Seasonal vegetables and meats are prepared before the departure time according to different directions and tastes of passengers. According to the characteristics of the line, special dishes will be created. For example, on the train bound for Chengdu, passengers like to eat spicy flavor, the train added improved pickled cabbage fish, Sichuan flavor double cooked pork; On the train to Changsha, passengers like Hunan dishes more. The train adds minced pepper fish head and spicy chicken. The trains to Lanzhou have added big dish chicken and braised beef. In addition, it provides customized meals to meet the needs of different passengers, including specialty children's meals and halal meals.
Comfortable and Bright High-speed Rail Food Bar
food bar
In the era of high-speed rail, due to the greatly reduced travel time, today's high-speed railway is no longer equipped with dining cars, but a restaurant bar. It provides high-speed rail passengers with box lunch and various snacks. Boxed lunches from frying to cooling, from packing to distribution on the car, there are strict temperature control standards and transportation time limitation.
With the development of technology, high-speed train launched 12306 high-speed takeout ordering, QR code scanning meal ordering, passengers can enjoy diversified, personalized, high-quality catering services. It’s no doubt that this service adds warmth to our train journeys.
Further reading:
How to Order Take-out on High-speed Train?
Food and Takeout on China’s Trains
