Number of Operational Vande Bharat Trains Rises to 144 Across India
New Delhi, August 10 – The Indian Railways has expanded its fleet of modern high-speed trains, with the number of operational Vande Bharat services reaching 144 across the country.
Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is focused on modernising the nation’s rail infrastructure. Designed and developed by Indian Railways, the semi high-speed Vande Bharat trains aim to offer passengers a faster, safer, and more comfortable travel experience.
These trains feature rapid acceleration, the Kavach safety system, fully sealed gangways, automatic doors, and ergonomically designed comfortable seats. Onboard facilities include mini pantries with hot cases, bottle coolers, deep freezers, and hot water boilers. Passengers benefit from reclining seats, rotating seats in executive class, individual mobile charging sockets, special toilets for differently-abled travellers, and CCTV surveillance for enhanced security.
As per agency report, the minister noted that the services are intended to reduce congestion on high-demand routes while maintaining affordability and safety. The trains are rapidly gaining popularity, with around 3 crore passengers travelling on Vande Bharat services in 2024–25, and 93 lakh passengers between April and June 2025 alone.
The rapid expansion of Vande Bharat operations is seen as a key step in transforming passenger travel in India, offering a combination of speed, comfort, and safety on some of the busiest rail routes in the country.
In addition to the growing network, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a new Vande Bharat service between Bengaluru and Belagavi in Karnataka. During the journey, he interacted with students and children on board. Before flagging off the train at the station, he greeted railway staff. The Prime Minister also launched two more routes: a new Vande Bharat between Amritsar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and another between Nagpur (Ajni) and Pune.
