Indian Railways modern ‘Vande Bharat’ Express trains, which have been redefining rail travel with their “modern design, top-notch amenities and efficient service” have emerged as the preferred mode of transportation amongst the youth and working class, according to South Central Railway (SCR) officials on Tuesday.
Currently, five Vande Bharat trains are running originating on the SCR jurisdiction including the Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam; Secunderabad – Tirupati; Tirupati – Secunderabad; Kacheguda – Yesvantpur (Hyderabad – Bangalore); Vijayawada – MGR Chennai Central.
All these trains are running successfully with more than 100% patronage from the inaugural run onwards. The latest data of passengers travelling in these trains show that an average of 29.08% passengers are youngsters belonging to the age group between 25-34 years.
Similarly, in the age bracket between 35-49 years, an average of 26.85% passengers seem to prefer the Vande Bharat Express over the other modes of transportation. Overall, around 56% of passengers on these new trains are youngsters and working class people, making them the highest category of passengers travelling on these trains, pointed out chief public relations officer Ch.Rakesh.
The data also shows that senior citizens in the Telugu States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have also shown their preference for travel in the Vande Bharat train for its comfort, speed and reduction in journey time with an average of about 11.81% passengers belonging to the 60+ age group, he said.
SCR General Manager Arun Kumar Jain has informed that from the date of introduction, a total of 7.16 lakh passengers have availed the services of the five Vande Bharat trains running in the zone . “Vande Bharat trains are a testament to the commitment of Indian Railways to enhance the travel experience and make the train journey more memorable and comfortable,” he added, in a press release.
