Lok Sabha Question No. 1773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Vande Bharat Train between Solapur–CSMT Mumbai
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde, Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1773 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## VANDE BHARAT TRAIN BETWEEN SOLAPUR-CSMT MUMBAI

1773. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the introduction of a Vande Bharat Express between Solapur and  CSMT  Mumbai  has  been  repeatedly  announced  without  a  definite
- launch date;
- (b) the details of the present status of infrastructure readiness and trial approvals;
- (c) whether passenger-load surveys justify delay despite high demand and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the reasons for postponement and the revised date commencement;
- of
- (e)  the  number  of  new  trains,  including  Vande  Bharat,  introduced  in Maharashtra during the last three years and the details thereof , sectorwise;
- (f)  whether  the  trains  service  suspended  during  the  COVID  period  have been resumed in  a  smooth  manner  and  whether  all  stoppages  of  these trains  have  been  restored  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof;  and  if  not,  the
- reasons therefor;
- (g)  the  details  of  the  new  trains  announced  during  the  last  three  years and the number of such trains that have been operationalised along with
- the details thereof;
- (h) the reasons for these train services not being started so far and the reasons for the delay in commencing the said train services; and
- (i) whether the Government has fixed any specific timeline for commencing these train services and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (i)  Indian  Railways(IR)  have  introduced  22225/22226  Chhatrapati

- Shivaji Maharaj (T) - Solapur Vande Bharat Express w.e.f. 11-02-2023 which

is  in  addition  to  31  pairs  of   train  services,  catering  to  the  needs  of passengers of Solapur-Mumbai sector.

Of the 164 Vande Bharat train services operationalised on the IR network, 24 Vande  Bharat  services  (on  originating/terminating basis), including 26101/26102 Pune-Ajni Vande  Bharat Express (introduced w.e.f. 11th August, 2025) are serving various stations located in the State of Maharashtra. Of these the following have been introduced during 2022-23 to 2024-25:

|   Sl. | Train no. and name                                                              | w.e.f.     |
|-------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|
|     1 | 20101/20102 Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express                            | 19-09-2024 |
|     2 | 20669/20670 Hubballi-Pune Vande Bharat Express                                  | 18-09-2024 |
|     3 | 20673/20674 SCSM(T) Kolhapur-Pune Vande Bharat Express                          | 18-09-2024 |
|     4 | 22961/22962 Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express                       | 09-03-2024 |
|     5 | 20705/20706 H. S. Nanded-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(T) Vande Bharat Express    | 30-12-2023 |
|     6 | 22229/22230 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(T)-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express         | 28-06-2023 |
|     7 | 20911/20912 Indore-Nagpur Vande Bharat Express                                  | 27-06-2023 |
|     8 | 22223/22224 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(T)-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat Express | 11-02-2023 |
|     9 | 22225/22226 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(T)-Solapur Vande Bharat Express         | 11-02-2023 |
|    10 | 20825/20826 Bilaspur-Nagpur Vande Bharat Express                                | 12-12-2022 |
|    11 | 20901/20902 Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express             | 30-09-2022 |

With  a  view  to  contain  the  spread  of  Covid-19  pandemic,  Indian  Railways (IR) had discontinued the operation of all regular passenger carrying trains with effect from 23rd March, 2020 and only special train services were being operated.  Indian  Railways  also  undertook  rationalisation  of  time-table, including  rationalisation  of  train  services  and  stoppages,  in  a  scientific manner with the assistance of IIT-Bombay. The exercise has been undertaken  inter  alia  to  provide  for  better  passenger  safety  by  creating maintenance corridor blocks, speeding up of train services and to improve punctuality. Since November-2021, Express train services are being operated as per rationalized time table and regular numbers.

The daily average number of train services on the Indian Railways network is  11740  (November,  2025)  as  against  11283  services  operating  prior  to Covid-19. The daily average number of Mail/Express services on the Indian Railways  network  is  2238  (November,  2025)  as  against  1768  services operating prior to Covid-19.

As  the  railway  network  straddles  across  State  boundaries,  trains  are introduced, as per network requirement, across such boundaries. However, during 2022-23 to 2024-25, around 600 train services have been introduced by IR, of which around 100 train services cater to various stations located in the State of Maharashtra.

Besides, introduction of new train services on any route/section depends on various factors which include-

- Capacity of that section
- Availability of path
- Availability of required rolling stock
- Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock
- Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets

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