Vande Bharat Trains Trigger 30 Per Cent Airfare Drop, Boost Occupancy Rates: Indian Railways Report

In a bid to enhance its services and attract more passengers, Indian Railways has started monitoring the demand for Vande Bharat trains by taking into account the gender and age of passengers.

This initiative aims to gain valuable insights into passenger demographics and preferences on the three Vande Bharat routes: Mumbai to Shirdi, Goa, and Solapur.

As reported by Livemint, Central Railway recently conducted its first data collection effort, revealing that the majority of passengers on the Mumbai-based Vande Bharat Express fall between the ages of 31 and 45, closely followed by those aged 15 to 30.

Between 15 September and 13 October, these routes saw 85,600 male passengers, 57,838 females, and 26 transgender individuals on board.

The collection of this demographic data is part of the railways' strategy to promote Vande Bharat trains and attract a more diverse passenger base.

Recent data indicates that train occupancy rates ranged from 77 per cent to 101 per cent in September.

Shivraj Manaspure, the Chief Public Relation Officer of Central Railway, noted that children aged 1-14 accounted for approximately 5 per cent of passengers during the period, while transgender individuals made up 4.5 per cent of all Vande Bharat passengers.

Also, since the introduction of the Vande Bharat train, the aviation industry has witnessed a decrease in air traffic, estimated at 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

This shift has also been accompanied by a significant reduction in airfare, with prices dropping by 20 per cent to 30 per cent, as stated by Manaspure.