Vande Bharat Express Breaks Records: Fully Booked For Over A Year, Carrying 25.20 Lakh Passengers
New Delhi, 30th June 2023: The Vande Bharat Express trains have achieved full capacity from April 2022 to June 2023, with a total of 25.20 lakh passengers travelling in these semi-high-speed trains across 2,140 trips, according to data available until June 21.
The Ministry of Railways has acknowledged the popularity of the Vande Bharat Express since its initial launch. In a statement on Thursday, the ministry stated, “This is evidenced by the 100 per cent occupancy rate on the Vande Bharat trains operating between April 1, 2022, and June 21, 2023.”
During the mentioned period, a total of 25,20,370 passengers boarded the Vande Bharat Express, with the number of occupied berths amounting to 25,23,538. Currently, there are 46 Vande Bharat trains in service, including five that were inaugurated recently.
The Vande Bharat Express fleet covers 24 states and Union Territories, continuously expanding due to its time-saving advantage of saving approximately one hour compared to other trains. With a maximum permissible speed of up to 160 mph, these trains offer faster acceleration and are the fastest passenger trains on their respective routes. The 46 services operate on electrified rail networks across various destinations, and as of June 28, all states with electrified rail networks have access to the Vande Bharat Express. Indian Railways is striving to achieve a 100 per cent electrified broad gauge network and will soon extend the services to the remaining states and Union Territories.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Railways is actively engaged in the development of the Vande Metro, an innovative project designed to offer passengers a swift and exceptional commuting experience comparable to that of a high-end shuttle service. These trains will operate in major cities with heavy traffic movement. The ministry stated that the design and production for the Vande Metro will be completed during 2023-24 and will be scaled up in the subsequent financial year of 2024-25.
Recently, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation invited online bids from international tenders for the procurement of 2,856 coaches for the city’s suburban network, as reported by News18 last week. This development aligns with the plans for the Vande Metro trains.
