Meal boxes must be fairly and transparently priced on trains

THE 15-YUAN ($2.3) MEAL BOXES, which were required to be available throughout the journey on all high-speed trains, are now provided on a first-come first-served basis, according to reports. Guangzhou Daily commented on Monday:

Asked why it stopped providing the 15-yuan meal boxes on all high-speed trains, the China Railway Corporation said the decision was about "catering to the diverse demands of passengers", not cutting the most affordable options, of which, it said, many cost even less than 10 yuan.

In most cases, passengers have to pay more than 40 yuan to enjoy a proper meal on a high-speed train, and it is understandable that some find the cost a bit steep and prefer taking their own food on board or choose not to eat at all.