{
  "id": 18239853,
  "title": "Vande Bharat trains record high occupancy in FY26; Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru tops at 189.35%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/vande-bharat-trains-record-high-occupancy-in-fy26-thiruvananthapuram",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T03:31:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - India",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-india",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/vande-bharat-trains-occupancy-fy26-thiruvananthapuram-mangaluru-10951380/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the fiscal year 2025-26, Vande Bharat trains achieved record-high passenger occupancy rates, with the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express leading the way at an impressive 189.35%. These semi-high-speed trains, manufactured by Chennai's Integral Coach Factory, offer modern amenities and advanced safety features to enhance passenger comfort.\n\nAccording to a senior Railway Board official, Vande Bharat Chair Car trains maintained an overall occupancy of 99.10% during the same period. The first Vande Bharat Sleeper service, launched in January 2026 between Howrah and Kamakhya, recorded a consolidated occupancy of 114.54%.\n\nThe Thiruvananthapuram Central-Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat service, operated by train number 20631 on the return journey, had the highest occupancy of 189.35%. Another notable train, number 20632, also achieved high occupancy at 174.77% while traveling from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Mangaluru Central.\n\nOn the Delhi-Varanasi route, three pairs of Vande Bharat Chair Car services are currently running. Train number 22416, traveling from New Delhi to Varanasi, had an occupancy of 114.05%, while its return service, number 22415, recorded 117.26%. Similarly, train number 22435, from Varanasi to New Delhi, had an occupancy of 117.25%, with its return service, number 22436, achieving 115.19%.\n\nThe Railway Board data covers all Vande Bharat Express trains for FY 2025-26, with an overall occupancy rate of 99.10% for Vande Bharat Chair Car trains and 114.54% for the Vande Bharat Sleeper service.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Vande Bharat trains recorded 189.35% occupancy on Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru route.",
    "99.10% overall occupancy for Vande Bharat Chair Car trains in FY 2025-26.",
    "114.54% occupancy for Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Howrah and Kamakhya."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Surging demand for semi-high-speed services signals a massive shift in passenger preference toward modern amenities and advanced safety features across the national rail network.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}