One of the greatest things about taking the train is that no journey is the same - you never know when you may be onboard, or on what occasion, or where to. Because of that, you may find yourself travelling in a time in need of food and refreshments - whether that’s a quick bite and a coffee before work, a celebratory drink on the way to the airport, or a full-blown picnic lunch on a long-haul journey.
But there are some important questions to answer before tucking in, like are you allowed to eat and drink on trains in the UK? If so, are there any restrictions? Are there ways to order food on the train? And does my first-class ticket mean I get a free meal?
We’re glad you asked! We’ve taken your most popular questions regarding food and drink on trains in the UK and addressed them below.
Can you drink alcohol on trains in the UK?
Yes, you can drink alcohol onboard trains, except for services run by TFL, such as the London Underground, London Overground, the Elizabeth Line and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Note also that Scotland has a stricter policy, with ScotRail prohibiting alcohol consumption and open containers on trains between 9:00 pm and 10:00 am.
Some companies may run alcohol-free services on a number of their lines due to past issues with antisocial behaviour. For example, Northern has banned drinking on these specific lines. To be safe, it is worth checking beforehand.
Note that antisocial behaviour is always prohibited on train services, including ‘loud talking, abusive language, littering, vandalism, playing loud music, aggressive behaviour towards staff, or threatening behaviour towards other passengers.’ It is recommended that, if alcohol can lead to this behaviour for you, it is not advisable to drink onboard - the journey is meant to be enjoyed by all.
Is there a buffet car on my train?
That depends on which train you are on! For many services in the UK, refreshments are available onboard, but some may require booking before departure, and others may also require a first-class ticket.
Below is a list of train operators who offer food, and links to their site for further information and available menus. Below that, you can find a list of train operators who do not provide food on their services.
Train operators who provide a buffet car:
- Avanti West Coast
- Caledonian Sleeper
- CrossCountry
- East Midlands Railway
- Grand Central
- GWR
- Greater Anglia
- Hull Trains
- LNER
- Lumo
- ScotRail
- TransPennine Express
- Transport for Wales
Train operators who do not provide a buffet car:
- c2c
- Chiltern Railways
- Elizabeth line
- Gatwick Express
- Great Northern
- Heathrow Express
- London Northwestern Railway
- London Overground
- Merseyrail
- Northern
- South Western Railway
- Southeastern
- Southern
- Stansted Express
- Thameslink
- West Midlands Railway
Can you eat on trains?
Yes, you are permitted to eat on most trains in the UK, as long as it is not disturbing or upsetting other passengers. Not only is food allowed in most cases, but many train operators also provide food and drink onboard - check above to see if your route is covered.
Can you bring your own food and drink on trains?
Yes, you can bring your own food and drink on trains. If you are planning to eat or drink onboard, please be respectful of leaving rubbish and place it either in the bins provided onboard or take the rubbish with you when you alight and dispose of it in a bin at the station.
Is food free on first-class trains?
Typically, a first-class ticket entitles you to complimentary food and drink, though this is specific to each provider.
You can find links to further information and menus for first-class services here. Any services which only offer light snacks, we’ve marked with the notation ‘(snacks only)’:
- Avanti West Coast
- CrossCountry
- GWR (snacks only)
- Greater Anglia (snacks only)
- Hull Trains
- LNER
- ScotRail (snacks only)
- TransPennine Express
- Transport for Wales
Do they sell vegetarian and vegan food on trains?
Yes, any train that sells food onboard will cater to both vegetarians and vegans. Be sure to ask when ordering food onboard.