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.

Srinagar, 22 June – The recently launched Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar has received an impressive response from passengers. Both pairs of trains introduced on June 7 are fully booked until 25 July, with daily demand for reservations steadily increasing.

According to the IRCTC reservation portal, the trains have long waiting lists or show “No Room” status for travel before 25 July. Seats are available beyond that date, but bookings are continuing at a brisk pace.

The train has opened up a new mode of transportation in the Kashmir Valley, offering a much-needed travel option for tourists and traders. With fares significantly lower than those of air travel, a large number of passengers are now opting for this rail alternative.

This shift has impacted air travel notably. Prior to the April 21 Pahalgam attack, there were 104 flights from Srinagar, with 19,641 passengers. Since the commencement of the train service on April 22, the number of flights has dropped to between 48 and 52 per day.

On 19 June, Srinagar Airport recorded 4,293 arrivals and 3,724 departures. Airline occupancy has dipped, with up to 15% of seats remaining vacant. An airline official acknowledged that the new train service has led to a noticeable drop in both flight numbers and passenger volume. As a result, some airlines have slashed their daily flights by 50%. Earlier, the fare for Delhi-Srinagar flights ranged between ₹12,000 to ₹15,000, which has now come down to ₹6,000–₹8,000 post the launch of Vande Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat train on 6 June. Tickets for the Katra-Srinagar service are available on the Indian Railways website. The train offers two classes: Chair Car at ₹715 and Executive Class at ₹1,320. Operating six days a week, the service currently halts only at Banihal, with decisions on additional stops expected later.

In a major boost to Saurashtra’s rail connectivity, a new Vande Bharat Express train has been launched between Veraval and Sabarmati (Ahmedabad), promising a faster and more comfortable journey for commuters. This marks the 67th Vande Bharat train service across India and the second in the Saurashtra region after the Okha-Ahmedabad route.

As per agency report, the new semi-high-speed service will significantly reduce travel time, with the journey from Rajkot to Ahmedabad now taking just four hours and Rajkot to Veraval only three hours. Covering a total distance of 450 kilometers, the train will complete the journey in just seven hours.

The Veraval-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat will operate six days a week, with Thursday designated as its weekly maintenance day. The train will have five major stops en route: Viramgam, Surendranagar, Wankaner, Rajkot, and Junagadh.

The daily schedule includes departures from Rajkot to Veraval at 9:36 AM with an arrival at 12:25 PM, and the return leg from Veraval to Rajkot departing at 2:40 PM and reaching at 5:27 PM. The Rajkot-Ahmedabad leg will depart at 5:22 PM and reach at 9:35 PM. The Ahmedabad to Veraval service will begin at 5:25 AM.

The Indian Railways has also announced the fare structure for this route. The executive class fare from Rajkot to Ahmedabad is set at ₹1,630, while the AC chair car fare is ₹935. For the Rajkot-Veraval leg, the executive fare is ₹1,280 and ₹695 for AC chair car. A trip from Rajkot to Junagadh will cost ₹1,085 in executive class and ₹565 in AC chair car.

Complementing the new service, the Rajkot-Hadmatiya rail line has been doubled over a 39-kilometer stretch at a cost of ₹377 crore. This development is expected to enhance the movement of long-distance trains, with the potential for new services to popular destinations such as Haridwar.

The launch of this Vande Bharat service is seen as a significant step in improving intercity travel within Gujarat. It not only cuts down travel time but is also poised to boost regional development and tourism in Saurashtra by offering a fast, reliable, and luxurious rail experience.

Jammu, March 31 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off Kashmir's first Vande Bharat Express on April 19 from Katra, marking the completion of the 272-kilometre-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line. As per agency report, this milestone event will establish a direct rail link to the Kashmir Valley, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the region.

The Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will initially operate from Katra, as renovation work is currently underway at Jammu railway station. The railway connectivity project, completed last month, received approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety in January for operations between Katra and Kashmir.

The high-speed train is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, offering modern and efficient rail service to the region. Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced on Sunday that Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge, the iconic Chenab Bridge, during his visit to Udhampur.

Currently, train services operate only between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the Valley and from Katra to various destinations across India. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line project began in 1997 but faced delays due to complex geological, geographical, and weather-related challenges.

The project comprises 38 tunnels spanning 119 kilometres in total, with the longest being the T-49 tunnel at 12.75 kilometres—India’s longest transport tunnel. Additionally, the railway line includes 927 bridges covering a total length of 13 kilometres. Among these is the Chenab Bridge, measuring 1,315 metres in length with an arch of 467 metres. Towering 359 metres above the riverbed, it stands 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, making it the world’s highest arch railway bridge.

Anand, Gujarat – In a significant development for rail connectivity in the region, the Vande Bharat Express between Gandhinagar Capital and Mumbai Central now includes an official halt at Anand Railway Station. The new stoppage was formally inaugurated by Member of Parliament Mitesh Patel during a special ceremony organized by the Vadodara Division of Western Railway.

The event commenced with a warm welcome by Vadodara Divisional Railway Manager Jitendra Singh, who extended greetings to the chief guest and other dignitaries in attendance. He praised MP Mitesh Patel for his tireless efforts in securing this much-needed facility for the residents of Anand.

Addressing the gathering, Mitesh Patel stated that the inclusion of Anand as a stop for the prestigious Vande Bharat Express fulfills a long-standing demand of the city’s residents. He noted that the new halt would provide significant travel convenience by offering a direct connection to Mumbai Central, thereby improving both travel time and comfort for passengers.

Several prominent figures attended the event, including Deputy Chief Whip and MLA Ramanbhai Solanki, District President Sanjaybhai, MLAs Yogesh Patel, Vipul Patel, Kamlesh Patel, former legislators, and other dignitaries. All attendees expressed appreciation for the new facility and congratulated the local residents.

As per agency report, train number 20901 (Mumbai Central – Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express) will now arrive at Anand Station at 10:38 AM and depart at 10:40 AM. Similarly, train number 20902 (Gandhinagar Capital – Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express) will arrive at 3:30 PM and depart at 3:32 PM.

At the conclusion of the program, MP Mitesh Patel greeted passengers and flagged off the train, marking the commencement of the new stop. A large number of local citizens, railway officials, and passengers were present to witness the occasion and welcomed the added connectivity with enthusiasm.

To enhance passenger convenience, Western Railway has announced that the prestigious Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express (Train Nos. 20901/20902) will now have an additional halt at Anand station on an experimental basis starting from March 23, 2025. This move comes as part of Western Railway’s efforts to provide better connectivity and service to passengers traveling through Gujarat.

The new halt will slightly modify the train's schedule at certain stations. According to a press release issued by Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Train No. 20901 Mumbai Central–Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express will arrive at Anand at 10:38 AM and depart at 10:40 AM.

In the reverse direction, Train No. 20902 Gandhinagar Capital–Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express will reach Anand at 3:30 PM and depart at 3:32 PM. Due to the inclusion of this new stop, there will be a minor revision in the train’s timing at Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central stations.

Train No. 20902 will now arrive at Ahmedabad at 2:45 PM and depart at 2:55 PM, instead of the earlier 2:50 PM to 3:00 PM schedule. Its arrival time at Mumbai Central has also been rescheduled to 8:30 PM, five minutes later than the previous time of 8:25 PM. No changes have been made to the timings at other stations along the route.

This adjustment aims to assess passenger response and operational feasibility, with the possibility of making the halt permanent based on feedback and demand.

Indian Railways is committed to provide affordable transport to all strata of population by operating different type of services viz. short distance, long distance, reserved, unreserved etc. Presently, 102 services of Vande Bharat trains are operated across the country.

Vande Bharat Express has emerged as popular train:

The popularity of Vande Bharat trains can be gauged from the fact that till March 31, 2024, more than 2 crore 15 lacs people have travelled by it. The occupancy of Vande Bharat trains on 07th May 2024 was 98%.  The Vande Bharat train services have been well patronized with the average occupancy being 103 % in FY 2024-25 till May 7th. During the Financial year 2022-23 and 2023-24, the overall occupancy of Vande Bharat trains was above 96%.
Vande Bharat Express is providing air travel like experience to the people. This is the reason why people prefer to travel by Vande Bharat Express. In a way, Vande Bharat Express has become synonymous with development, modernity, stability and self-reliance.

284 districts of the country have been connected to Vande Bharat:

A total of 284 districts across the country have been connected to the service of Vande Bharat Express. This number will continue to increase in the future. A total of 102 Vande Bharat trains are providing services on 100 routes of the railway network.

Vande Bharat trains have covered a distance equivalent to 310 rounds of the Earth in a year:

The distance covered by Vande Bharat trains in the financial year 2023-24, i.e. the amount of up-down movements, is equivalent to circling the Earth approximately 310 times. Considering the popularity of Vande Bharat among railway passengers, now preparations are underway to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper trains also. For this, work is going on very fast.
 
Features which make Vande Bharat special:

All coaches of Vande Bharat Express are fitted with automatic doors, GPS based passenger information system, Wi-Fi service and comfortable seats. The Executive Coach has the additional facility of 180 degree swivel seats. All coaches are provided with a pantry facility to serve hot food and cold drinks. Apart from this, Speed ​; safety and comfort are the hallmarks of this train.

To reduce the carbon footprint, a regenerative brake system has been installed in the Vande Bharat train. The coaches of Vande Bharat Express are sound proof. Apart from this, the new design of Vande Bharat Express has a photo-catalytic ultraviolet air purification system installed in the roof-mounted package unit (RMPU) for air purification.

Mumbai, Oct 25 (IANS) The semi-highspeed four Vande Bharat Express trains running on the Western Railway (WR) networks are going nearly house-full for their cleanliness, comfort, design and ambience, officials said here on Wedneday.

WR Chief Spokesperson Sumit Thakur said that the Vande Bharat Expresses ply on Mumbai-Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad (Sabarmati)-Jamnagar, Ahmedabad-Jodhpur and Indore-Bhopal-Nagpur sectors, and have proved a ‘hit’ with the passengers.

 “The passengers have appreciated the comfort level of the Vande Bharat trains, the plush interiors, the variety of healthy, delicious food served and the reduced travel time as compared to other trains. They have equated the journey by Vande Bharat trains as that of travelling by aircraft with less hassles of check-in & more economical pricing,” said Thakur.

He said that the Vande Bharat Express trains link major business hubs like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, industrial centres of Vapi, Valsad, Jamnagar, Sanand, Nagpur, tourist destinations like Jodhpur, Abu Road and religious places like Ujjain, Indore, Sabarmati and Palanpur, thus becoming a catalyst for business growth and tourism.

The Mumbai-Gandhinagar service was launched on September 30, 2022, and has an average occupancy rate of more than 130 percent, remaining in great demand from the age group of 31-45 years who constitute over 33 percent of the total passengers, followed by 46-60 age group (25 percent), and the 15-30 age group (24 percent), with senior citizens accounting for 14 percent, with even more women clamouring to travel by Vande Bharat Express.

New Delhi/Jaipur, Oct 2 (IANS) Alert loco pilots of the Udaipur City-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express on Monday averted a big tragedy as they stopped train in time after they spotting ballast and vertical rods on the railway track, officials said.

According to North Western Railway officials, on Monday between the Gangrar and Soniyana railway station, the loco pilots spotted ballast and vertical iron rods on the railway track, applied emergency brakes and stopped the train before the hurdle

The ballasts were spread over 20 to 25 metres, an official said, adding that the incident took place around 9.55 a.m.

Following the incident, the GRP and the RPF were informed and a case is being registered at the Gangrar police.

According to the railway officials, if the train would have not stopped before the vertical iron rods, then a major accident would have taken place. The train was cleared to go for its further journey after a delay of six minutes.

In June this year, at least 293 people died and over 800 injured when the Chennai bound Coromandel Express, a goods train and the Howrah-bound Howrah-SMVT Superfast Express met an accident at Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha's Balasore on June 2. 

Gujarat is gearing up to welcome its third Vande Bharat Express train, which will also be the second to serve the city of Surat. The Western Railway recently announced its plans to operate this high-speed train between Udhna and Indore. Although the official start date has yet to be disclosed, the approximate timetable for the train has been released.

The Vande Bharat Express will leave Indore at 5:50 a.m. and is scheduled to reach Udhna at 1:20 p.m. The return trip from Udhna will commence at 1:55 p.m., with the train arriving back in Indore at 9:30 p.m. The new service will operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays, and will make stops at Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Ratlam, and Ujjain. The train will cover the 570-km distance in approximately 7.5 hours, maintaining an average speed of 76 km/h.

Boost for Devotees of Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
This new train service is particularly good news for devotees visiting the Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 self-proclaimed Jyotirlingas in India. Located in Ujjain, the Mahakaleshwar Temple draws crowds throughout the year, with especially high footfall during the months of Mahashivratri and Shravan. The Vande Bharat Express is expected to facilitate easier pilgrimages, especially for those traveling from South Gujarat.

Public Reaction
While this news has mostly been welcomed, there is also ongoing discussion among aware citizens about the train's speed. Although many trains are experiencing increased speeds, the Vande Bharat Express to Surat is set to operate at an average speed of just 74-75 km/h. Critics argue that this is indicative of how Surat may be getting shortchanged, particularly when it comes to the fare, which is said to be charged at intercity speeds.

The new Vande Bharat Express will join two existing services in Gujarat—one running between Mumbai and Gandhinagar Capital via Surat and Vadodara, and another operating between Sabarmati and Jodhpur. With this addition, the state is further cementing its status as a significant hub in the Western Railway network.

Jaipur, August 21 (IANS) The Indian Railways has announced the fourth Vande Bharat Express train for Rajasthan, which will run between Jaipur to Chandigarh.

Although an official announcement on the commenment date and the fares is yet to be made, Railways sources said the service might begin soon.

The fourth Vande Bharat will be different from the three that are already in service in Rajasthan, they added.

Presently the three Vande Bharat trains are running between Jodhpur to Sabarmati; Jaipur to Udaipur; and Jaipur to Delhi.

There has been a demand for operation of the Vande Bharat Express train on the Chandigarh-Jaipur rail track in Ambala division for some time now.

Running of the new train will not only save the time of passengers, but also increase convenience.

On the other hand, work on the new Ratlam-Banswara-Dungarpur rail line has started again after a gap of four years.

Railways has sought the acquired land from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments.