New Delhi: Vande Bharat passengers rose to nearly 3.98 crore in FY 2025–26, marking a 34% increase and signalling strong demand for modern rail travel, the government said.
Indian Railways said the surge reflected growing preference for fast, comfortable and efficient journeys across the country. In FY 2024–25, about 2.97 crore passengers had used the service.
Since its launch, Vande Bharat passengers have crossed 9.1 crore across nearly 1 lakh trips. The service, introduced in February 2019 on the New Delhi–Varanasi route, has expanded into a nationwide network.
High-demand routes continued to drive growth. The New Delhi–Varanasi corridor recorded over 73 lakh passengers. Similarly, the New Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra route served about 56 lakh passengers.
In southern India, the Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam route handled more than 48 lakh passengers. Meanwhile, the Chennai–Mysuru route recorded over 36 lakh passengers, reflecting strong regional demand.
Rising Vande Bharat passengers boost tourism and connectivity
Officials said these services improved access to religious, cultural and coastal destinations. As a result, they boosted tourism and supported local economies across regions.
Indian Railways also introduced the Vande Bharat Sleeper service in January 2026. In its first three months, it carried 1.21 lakh passengers across 119 trips.
Notably, the sleeper service recorded over 100% occupancy, indicating strong demand for premium overnight travel. This trend further added to the rise in Vande Bharat passengers.
The Railways said the trains featured enhanced speed, safety systems and passenger comfort. It added that the indigenously developed service supported the Make in India initiative.
Officials said expansion plans would continue to connect major cities, pilgrimage centres and economic hubs. They added that the network would further strengthen fast and reliable travel options.
