Vande Bharat Trains Record 99.10% Occupancy In FY26, Kerala Route Leads At 189.35%

The Ministry of Railways introduced Vande Bharat trains in 2019 to enhance the passenger travel experience across the country. Since their launch, more than 160 services have become operational, improving connectivity and reducing travel time between several cities. Want to know more about it? Scroll down

Vande Bharat Trains Record 99.10% Occupancy In FY26

Manufactured by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), these semi-high-speed trains feature modern coaches, advanced safety systems and passenger-friendly amenities.

According to a senior Railway Board official who spoke to Indianexpress.com, Vande Bharat Chair Car services recorded an overall occupancy of 99.10% in FY 2025-26. Meanwhile, India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper service, launched in January 2026 between Howrah and Kamakhya, registered a consolidated occupancy of 114.54%.

Among all services, the Vande Bharat Express operating between Thiruvananthapuram Central and Mangaluru Central recorded the highest occupancy at 189.35% during FY26.

Also Read: What Is Served On Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Train?

The official also stated that the train number 20631, running from Mangaluru Central to Thiruvananthapuram Central, recorded an occupancy of 174.77%. Its return service, train number 20632, registered an even higher occupancy of 189.35%.

On the Delhi-Varanasi route, two pairs of train services recorded occupancy levels above 114%. Train number 22415, operating from Varanasi to New Delhi, registered 117.26%, while its return service, 22416, recorded 114.05%. Similarly, trains 22435 and 22436 recorded occupancies of 117.25% and 115.19%, respectively.

Karnataka To Get Another Vande Bharat Sleeper Train

Earlier, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Karnataka will get another Vande Bharat Sleeper service originating from Bengaluru. Speaking at the launch of the country’s third  service on the Bengaluru-Mumbai route on Sunday, he shared details of the upcoming connection.

The proposed train will travel from Bengaluru via Hubballi, connecting several parts of northern Karnataka before proceeding towards Pune and Mumbai.

Also Read: Bengaluru To Goa In 13 Hours: New Vande Bharat Via Western Ghats Likely In November

He stated that the next sleeper train for Karnataka will start from Bengaluru, connect all parts of northern Karnataka via Hubballi, and then proceed towards Pune and Mumbai.

Have you travelled in Vande Bharat?

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Tanvi Shrivastava | Sub-Editor

Tanvi Nalin Shrivastava is a Sub-Editor at Curly Tales with 5 years of experience in digital journalism and content creation, with expertise spanning beauty, food, travel, fashion and entertainment. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from the University of Mumbai. When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her reading, talking to the camera or just binge-watching rom-coms.