ZURICH (Kyodo) -- Japanese-style train-ride eats went on sale at Zurich's main station Thursday, with travelers and locals flocking to the pop-up store featuring bento boxed meals that have evolved with the Asian country's vast railway system.

At lunch time, Swiss locals and even some Japanese nationals were seen waiting in line to get train-station bento, or "ekiben," in an underground shopping area of Zurich Central Station in northern Switzerland. The store will operate through Feb. 27.

"I wish, I wish (the shop) would be here forever," Anne-Marie Knuttel, a 73-year-old from Zurich, said as she purchased a meal she looked forward to eating during her train journey to Bern.

Yuka Kiryu, a Japanese national in her 50s who lives in Zurich, said she had missed her home country's ekiben culture.

"For lunch, to buy something at Zurich main station, there are not so many varieties, you just have sandwiches or quiches, or maybe pizza," she said.

In Japan, the boxed meals are typically sold at kiosks, with passengers often eating them while on longer, intercity shinkansen bullet train journeys. Travelers are often seen picking from a variety of such products -- many of which feature local cuisines and come in colorful packaging -- before catching a train.

The initiative to promote ekiben worldwide is spearheaded by "Ekiben World Team," a Japanese consortium formed by bento box specialists Hanazen Co., Maneki Foods Co. and Matsuura Shoten Co.

The three companies are offering a total of six types of packaged meals at Zurich Central Station, such as "Shrimp Tempura Rice Ball," sold for 12 Swiss francs ($13), and "Swiss Beef Rice Bento" with a price tag of 22.5 Swiss francs.

Choosing the beef rice bento, Hans Thompson, 67, said he was sure Swiss beef would be "as good as" the Japanese, while noting that "the Japanese rice is the best."

The companies have sourced ingredients locally, with the exception of the rice. They aim to sell 180 meals per day.

An official of Swiss Federal Railways said it looks forward to the success of the initiative, which may become a permanent feature.

While ekiben boxes have previously been sold by Hanazen in Paris' Gare de Lyon train station, the pop-up store in Zurich is the first project of the consortium of the three companies.

The official said such a project could also potentially be replicated, for instance in a station in Geneva. So far, no other pop-up store has been announced.