Southern Railway has expanded the current booking facility to all 17 Vande Bharat trains operating in its zone. This update allows passengers to book vacant seats up to 15 minutes before the train departs. The move aims to help last-minute travelers and ensure that seats do not go empty.
How does the current booking work for Vande Bharat
Passengers can book tickets through the IRCTC website, mobile app, or at railway station counters. This facility is available for both starting stations and intermediate stations. The system was first tested as a pilot project in July 2025 with eight trains before being rolled out to all 17 trains in the zone by June 2026.
Impact on revenue and passenger numbers
The pilot project showed a significant increase in both bookings and earnings. The average monthly bookings rose from 16,729 to 30,267 passengers, while monthly revenue grew from ₹124.80 lakh to ₹222.17 lakh. The Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express emerged as the highest earning train in the zone.
| Metric | FY 2024-25 | FY 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Passengers | 54.12 Lakh | 77.38 Lakh |
| Total Revenue | ₹540.65 Crore | ₹803.86 Crore |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
वंदे भारत में करंट बुकिंग कब तक की जा सकती है?
यात्री ट्रेन के प्रस्थान समय से 15 मिनट पहले तक खाली सीटों को बुक कर सकते हैं।
यह सुविधा किन ट्रेनों में उपलब्ध है?
यह सुविधा वर्तमान में दक्षिणी रेलवे जोन की सभी 17 वंदे भारत ट्रेनों में उपलब्ध कराई गई है।