In a major passenger-friendly initiative, Southern Railway has extended its current booking facility to all 17 Vande Bharat Express trains originating within its zone, allowing travellers to reserve vacant seats up to just 15 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train. The facility is available not only at originating stations but also at intermediate stations along the route, offering greater flexibility for last-minute travel plans.
The decision follows the remarkable success of a pilot project introduced in eight Vande Bharat services in July 2025. The pilot witnessed a strong response from passengers, prompting railway authorities to expand the facility across all originating Vande Bharat trains under Southern Railway.
Greater Convenience for Last-Minute Travellers
Under the current booking system, passengers can now secure available seats shortly before departure without having to make advance reservations days or weeks in advance. The move is expected to benefit business travellers, emergency travellers, tourists and passengers whose travel plans often change at short notice.
Railway officials believe the initiative will help optimize seat occupancy, reduce vacant seats and improve passenger convenience while ensuring better utilisation of train capacity.
Sharp Rise in Bookings After Pilot Project
Official figures indicate that the current booking facility has significantly improved passenger turnout on Vande Bharat trains.
The average monthly current bookings increased from 16,729 passengers during April–June 2025 to 30,267 passengers during August–October 2025, registering a substantial growth of 80.93 per cent.
The strong increase demonstrates growing passenger confidence in the flexibility offered by the new reservation system and highlights the increasing popularity of Vande Bharat services across Southern Railway routes.
Revenue Sees Significant Boost
The rise in passenger bookings has also translated into higher earnings for the Railways.
Monthly revenue generated through current bookings increased from ₹124.80 lakh before the pilot project to ₹222.17 lakh after its implementation, reflecting a growth of 78.02 per cent.
Railway authorities view the initiative as a successful example of how passenger-centric reforms can simultaneously improve convenience and revenue generation.
Vande Bharat Trains Continue Strong Growth
Southern Railway’s Vande Bharat network has recorded impressive growth in overall ridership and earnings over the past year.
During 2025-26, the zone’s 24 Vande Bharat trains carried approximately 77.38 lakh passengers and generated revenue of ₹803.86 crore.
In comparison, during 2024-25, the same services transported 54.12 lakh passengers and earned ₹540.65 crore, highlighting a substantial year-on-year increase in both passenger traffic and revenue collection.
Strong Performance Continues in 2026
The upward trend has continued into the current financial year.
During April and May 2026 alone, Southern Railway’s Vande Bharat services carried 15.21 lakh passengers and generated ₹162.96 crore in revenue, underscoring the growing preference for India’s semi-high-speed train network.
With faster travel times, modern amenities, improved connectivity and now greater booking flexibility, Vande Bharat trains continue to strengthen their position as one of the most preferred travel options for railway passengers across the country.
