1. Ticket Purchase Errors: One possible reason may be that the passenger accidentally selects a meal ticket along with their train ticket while making the purchase. This can happen due to hurry or technical issues while buying tickets online.
2. Limited Availability of Seats: Another reason is that passengers are not able to secure seats in the crowded trains and end up buying meal tickets as a backup plan. This is especially true during peak travel seasons, where train tickets sell out quickly.
3. Convenience: Some passengers prefer to buy meal tickets as it saves time and effort during long journeys. They can skip the hassle of carrying food and beverages, and simply enjoy a hot meal served by the train's catering staff.
4. Promotions and Bundled Deals: Train companies sometimes offer bundled deals that include both train and meal tickets. For instance, passengers can get discounted meal tickets along with their train tickets. In such cases, passengers end up buying meal tickets as part of the attractive package deal.
5. Limited Availability of Food/Drinks: In some cases, the train may not cater to all types of snacks, meals, or beverages that passengers prefer. Therefore, passengers may opt to purchase meal tickets to ensure they get the food and drinks they want during their journey.
In conclusion, there can be various reasons why passengers end up buying meal tickets along with their train tickets. These range from convenience to limited availability of food, and even ticket purchase errors.