The Indian Railways is reviewing the fares of select Vande Bharat trains with low occupancy, including the Nagpur-Bilaspur Express, in an effort to make them more financially viable and attractive to passengers, according to sources. The Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express currently experiences an average occupancy rate of around 55 per cent.
Passengers and railway officials believe reducing ticket prices for the Nagpur-Bilaspur route could significantly improve its performance. The journey, which takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes, could potentially attract more travellers if the fares were brought down.
At present, the executive class fare for the Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express is Rs 2,045, while the Chair Car ticket costs Rs 1,075. Due to low occupancy, the train was replaced by the Tejas Express in May.
The Railways’ aim is to make the train more accessible and appealing to passengers by considering a substantial reduction in fares. By doing so, they hope to improve the occupancy rate and ensure the route’s sustainability.
The Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express is one among the 46 Vande Bharat Express services that have covered all rail-electrified states in India. While some of the Vande Bharat trains have achieved high occupancy rates, such as the Kasaragod to Trivandrum train (183 per cent) and the Trivandrum to Kasaragod Vande Bharat train (176 per cent), the Nagpur-Bilaspur route has struggled to attract sufficient passengers.
By lowering the fares of the Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat Express, the railway hopes to increase its popularity and improve its financial viability. This move reflects the commitment of Indian Railways to enhance passenger convenience and affordability while optimizing the utilization of their services.