Barring Bhopal-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express and Indore-Bhopal Vande Bharat Express, all other 23 Vande Bharat trains are drawing more than 50 per cent passenger bookings.
According to the latest occupancy data upto 11 July 2023 only nine Vande Bharat services are showing housefull with more than 100 per cent occupancy while 16 services are less than 100 per cent occupancy.
Bhopal-Jabalpur Vande Bharat service is showing only 44 per cent occupancy while Indore – Bhopal Vande Bharat service is showing 37 per cent occupancy, the lowest in all Vande Bharat services.
The Railways has decided to reduce the Vande Bharat fare in those sectors where the occupancy is 50 per cent less.
The recently launched Jodhpur – Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express has recorded 53 per cent occupancy which is also a cause of concern for the Railways, while Gorakhpur-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express is showing 77 per cent occupancy rate. Both these two trains were launched this month only.
The Ajmer-Delhi Vande Bharat Express has recorded 68 per cent occupancy and Bangalore – Dharwar Vande Bharat Express has shown 72 per cent occupancy which are not in negative zone though but the Railways expect the ridership should increase further.
However, Kasargod-Trivandrum Vande Bharat Express is the most sought after train with 177 per cent occupancy rate followed by Mumbai- Ahmedabad Vande Bharat with 132 per cent, Varanasi-Delhi Vande Bharat with 126 per cent, Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat service with 118 per cent and Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat with 114 per cent.
Vande Bharat services are also doing well in Delhi-Dehradun, Mumbai-Solapur and Kolkata-New Jalpaiguri routes as both trains are having above 100 per cent occupancy rate.
New Jalpaiguri-Guwahati Vande Bharat and Bhopal – Delhi Vande Bharat are also sowing good results with over 90 per cent occupancy rate while Kolkata-Puri service is touching 99 per cent occupancy.
According to the Railways, monsoon season is considered as a lean season with decline in passenger bookings.
There are about four more Vande Bharat trains are being ready and expected to be rolled out for trial run in August.
Till now the Railways has made 25 Vande Bharat trains operational.