Indian Railways continues to witness a massive surge in the popularity of its premium semi-high-speed network, with the Vande Bharat Express fleet recording a **34% growth in ridership** during the 2025-26 financial year. Passenger numbers reached **3.98 crore**, up from 2.97 crore in the previous fiscal year, with many routes consistently operating at over **100% occupancy**. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that these trains have become a cornerstone of passenger revenue for the national transporter.
Key highlights of the Vande Bharat network performance include:
- Total passenger count reached 3.98 crore in FY 2025-26.
- The network now connects approximately 270 districts across India.
- Over 100,000 trips have been completed since the service debuted in 2019.
- Cumulative ridership has crossed the 9.1 crore mark.
- Long-term goals include 800 train sets by 2030 and 4,500 by 2047.
Expansion and New Service Milestones
Since the launch of the **Vande Bharat Sleeper service in January 2026**, the train has seen exceptional demand, moving **1.21 lakh passengers across 119 trips** with full occupancy. To accommodate this rising footfall, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai is ramping up production. The facility is set to manufacture **50 units of 24-coach Vande Bharat Sleeper trains**, which are engineered to carry **1.5 times more passengers** than the standard 16-coach variants.
Diversification into Freight and Exports
Beyond passenger services, Indian Railways is exploring new logistics avenues. A **Vande Bharat freight train** recently finished a successful trial on the West Central Railway’s Kota-Rohal Khurd section, clocking speeds of **130 km/hr**.
Looking toward global markets, RITES Ltd. is spearheading efforts to export standard-gauge Vande Bharat trains. The project has already garnered significant interest from several European markets, signaling that the ‘Make in India’ initiative is ready to make its mark on the global railway stage. With such aggressive expansion targets and a focus on both comfort and cargo, the Vande Bharat platform remains the most ambitious project in the history of Indian Railways.