Vande Bharat Passenger Traffic Surges 34% In FY26, Nears 4 Crore Mark

New Delhi, April 13: The Ministry of Railways reported a sharp increase in passenger traffic on the Vande Bharat Express network in FY 2025–26, with nearly 4 crore यात्रियों opting for the service, reflecting a 34% year-on-year growth.

Since its launch in 2019, the Vande Bharat Express has evolved into a nationwide network, cumulatively serving over 9.1 crore passengers across more than one lakh trips. In FY26 alone, the network carried approximately 3.98 crore passengers, up from 2.97 crore यात्रियों in FY25.

Positioned as a flagship of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the Vande Bharat trains have emerged as a symbol of speed, efficiency, and indigenous manufacturing capability in India’s rail sector.

Key routes continue to witness strong traction, with the New Delhi–Varanasi corridor remaining the busiest, serving over 73 lakh passengers. Other high-demand routes include New Delhi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (56 lakh passengers), Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam (48 lakh), and Chennai–Mysuru (36 lakh), highlighting robust demand across regions and travel segments.

The network has also contributed to tourism growth by improving connectivity to major religious, cultural, and coastal destinations, supporting local economies and increasing footfall.

Further expanding its portfolio, Indian Railways introduced the Vande Bharat Sleeper service in January 2026 to enhance long-distance connectivity. Within three months of launch, the service carried over 1.21 lakh passengers across 119 trips, recording occupancy levels exceeding 100%, indicating strong demand for premium overnight rail travel.

The sustained growth in ridership underscores the increasing adoption of modern rail infrastructure and premium travel services in India’s passenger transport segment.