Ahmedabad to Get Its First Railway Coach Restaurant at Ambli Station

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — From kite hotels soaring 120 feet high to floating eateries at Kankaria and food buses cruising busy streets, Ahmedabad has never shied away from experimenting with dining concepts. Now, the city is ready to add another unforgettable experience to its culinary map — a full-fledged restaurant inside a real railway coach, right at Ambli railway station.

The Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway is set to launch the city’s first railway coach restaurant, where visitors can enjoy food inside an original train coach without buying a ticket or boarding a train. Designed as a family-friendly and youth-centric destination, the restaurant will be open 24 hours a day and serve only vegetarian cuisine.

“This is a novel experiment by Western Railway. A decommissioned train coach has been converted into a restaurant to offer people a unique yet affordable dining experience,” said Ajay Solanki, Public Relations Officer, Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway. “The operations are in the final stage, and Ahmedabad will soon receive this special gift.”

Located in a calm, well-secured area with boundary walls on all sides, the restaurant is being developed across 575 square metres at an estimated cost of over ₹1 crore. Parking has been planned for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, eliminating common urban hassles. Interestingly, instead of cutting trees, planners have incorporated them into the restaurant layout, aligning the design with Vastu principles.

The restaurant will serve Gujarati, Punjabi and Chinese dishes, along with breakfast options. “It will remain open round the clock so people can drop in anytime,” Solanki added.

The project has been awarded through an open tender process to Diksha Road Lines for a 10-year period. Its owner, Ajay Singh Tomar, explained how the coach was installed. “The tender was finalized in January 2025. The coach was handed over in September and placed here using two massive cranes after being brought on tracks to Ambli station,” he said.

Only decommissioned coaches, whose service life has ended, are repurposed for such projects. Inside, the coach will seat around 60 people, higher than similar railway restaurants in Mumbai, which typically seat 40. A takeaway facility and open-air dining outside the coach are also part of the plan.

Premium touches include themed curtains, original train-style chains, rail-style announcements and inbuilt speakers declaring, “You are travelling in the Ambli Express.” CCTV cameras and fire safety equipment will ensure security.

“A glimpse of Ahmedabad and Gujarat’s culture will be reflected in the interiors,” Solanki noted. “Yet, prices will remain affordable, keeping the common man at the centre.”

Encouraged by the response nationwide, Western Railway is planning similar restaurants at Mehsana, Gandhidham, New Bhuj and Gandhinagar. If crowds at other stations are any indication, Ambli’s railway coach restaurant could soon become Ahmedabad’s newest celebration hotspot.