Lok Sabha Question No. 920 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Vande Bharat Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ganesan Selvam, Vaithilingam Ve., Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Manjulata Mandal, Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, DNV Senthilkumar. S., C.N. Annadurai, Amol Ramsing Kolhe

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 920

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## VANDE BHARAT TRAINS

## 920. SHRI SELVAM G.:

SHRI VE. VAITHILINGAM:

SHRI MANOJ KOTAK:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRIMATI MANJULATA MANDAL:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR S.:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any statistics regarding the number of Vande Bharat Trains run by the Railways so far, if so, the number of routes on which Vande Bharat Trains are plying and the average income generated, State-wise;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  intends  to  launch  400  Vande  Bharat  trains  and also introduce new stop to these trains across the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu;
- (c) whether the existing railway tracks are suitable for Vande Bharat Trains to use its maximum speed;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  whether  the  Government  is  likely  to consider taking steps to use maximum speed of Vande Bharat Trains;
- (e) whether Vande Bharat trains are not getting enough passengers due to high fares and if so, the corrective measures being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (f) the other changes proposed in the said trains for the convenience of the passengers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  920  BY  SHRI  SELVAM  G.,  SHRI  VE.  VAITHILINGAM,  SHRI MANOJ KOTAK, SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE,  SHRIMATI MANJULATA MANDAL, DR.  SUBHASH  RAMRAO  BHAMRE,  SHRI  KULDEEP  RAI  SHARMA,  DR.  DNV SENTHILKUMAR S., SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI AND  DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2024 REGARDING VANDE BHARAT TRAIN (a) to (f) As on 31 st  January, 2024, 82 Vande Bharat train services are operating across  the  Indian  Railways,  connecting  states  having  Broad  Gauge  (B.G.) electrified  network.  Besides,  provision  of  stoppage  of  train  services  and introduction of new  train services, including Vande  Bharat,  are  ongoing processes  on  Indian  Railways  subject  to  traffic  justification,  operational feasibility, resource availability, etc. Train-wise and state-wise revenue generated is not maintained. Sectional  speed  over  10981  route  kilometers  covering  Golden  Quadrilateral (GQ)  &  Diagonal  routes  and  other  'B'  routes  has  been  raised  to  130  kmph. Further,  works  for  raising  of  sectional  speed  to  160  kmph  on  existing  New Delhi-Mumbai (including Vadodara-Ahmedabad) and New Delhi-Howrah (including  Kanpur-Lucknow)  routes  have  been  taken  up.  During  the  Financial year 2022-23, overall occupancy of Vande Bharat trains is 96.62%. The improved version of Vande Bharat trains presently running over the Indian Railway  network  with  enhanced  safety  features,  faster  acceleration,  better ride index and passenger amenities, such as Automatic Plug Doors,   Reclining Ergonomic Seats, Comfortable Seating with revolving seats in executive class, Mobile charging sockets for every seat, etc. and is fitted with KAVACH system.

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