Vande Bharat: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Service Has Highest Occupancy Rate; Nagpur-Bilaspur Service At Lowest

Mumbai bound Vande Bharat Express from Gandhinagar station has maximum occupancy rate with 127.67 per cent, while Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express has the lowest occupancy rate with 52.86 per cent, among all eight Vande Bharat trains in the country.

Currently, eight Vande Bharat trains are operational since its first launch in February 2019, while two more are being launched on 10 February from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).

However, Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Mumbai Vande Bharat service is most popular in both directions as Gujarat bound is also showing 16.43 per cent as on 8 February.

Nagpur-Bilaspur-Nagpur Vande Bharat service is showing below 60 per cent occupancy in both directions. While Bilaspur bound is showing 52.86 per cent occupancy, Nagpur bound is slightly better at 55.25 per cent, according to the Railways data.

The first Vande Bharat Express for Varanasi is, however, still popular with the passengers as the return journey to New Delhi is showing 125.89 per cent occupancy and Varanasi bound is 121.51 per cent.

The second Vande Bharat Express, for Katra from New Delhi, launched in October 2019, is also attracting passengers in hordes with 106.35 per cent for Katra and 104.89 per cent occupancy in its return journey.

Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express has 78.12 per cent occupancy rate and Mysuru-Chennai Vande service has 68.26 per cent occupancy rate.

The recently launched Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat train, connecting two Telugu speaking states, is also showing over 100 per cent occupancy in both directions.

While Visakhapatnam bound service is having 124.50 per cent occupancy rate, Secunderabad bound train is showing 106.18 per cent.

The Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat is also a big hit since its launch in December 2022, with over 100 per cent occupancy rate in both directions.

While New Jalpaiguri bound service is showing 103.67 per cent occupancy Howrah bound service is also popular with 102.01 per cent occupancy rate, as per the latest data collected by the Railways traffic directorate.

However, Himachal bound Vande Bharat train is showing a mixed trend with onward journey towards Amb Andaura having occupancy rate of 77.92 per cent, while the return journey to New Delhi is showing less occupancy with 57.18 per cent.

The Vande Bharat train is a premium service of the Railways with many added features like GPS-based passenger information system, bio-vacuum toilets, and rotational seats, which can be aligned in the direction of travel in executive class.

Vande Bharat train also employs a regenerative braking system and  can reach a maximum speed of 180 km per hour.