Despite a large waiting list for Pune-bound trains, the railway administration is introducing a Vande Bharat rake on the Nagpur-Secunderabad route, which currently has only 20 percent occupancy. Central Railway officials believe that occupancy will increase in the coming days, as low initial numbers were expected.
The authorities agrees the fact that the Nagpur-Pune route needs a Vande Bharat train or an additional train service. Many people often travel this route for work or education.
There are 12 trains connecting Nagpur and Pune, including the daily Maharashtra Express and Azad Hind Express. Despite this, the waiting list remains high, with no availability shown on the IRCTC website for September.
The route is highly popular, making it tough to get confirmed tickets quickly. Most trains are fully booked, and with Diwali approaching, waiting lists are growing longer. In the first two weeks of November, few trains will have available seats.
Railway officials believe that ridership on the Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat train will increase over time.
The Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat train is facing low passenger numbers, with over 1,200 of its 1,440 seats often vacant, resulting in an occupancy rate of just 15-20%. Seats can easily be booked for next-day travel, as 80% remain unfilled. In contrast, the 31 trains on this route have much better seat availability than the Nagpur-Pune route. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Aman Mittal acknowledged the low ridership but is hopeful it will improve over time. He mentioned that the railways are promoting the service through ads and social media. “The board may consider reducing the number of coaches in this train if the situation continues,” he added.
For instance, Train No. 22140 Pune Humsafar has all 2S and Sleeper classes fully booked until December, with only limited seats available in 3AC and 2AC. Similarly, Train No. 12222 Pune Duronto Express has no availability in 3AC and 1AC until December, with just a few 2AC seats left by late November. Most trains on this route are facing similar shortages.
As a result, passengers were eagerly awaiting a Vande Bharat train between Nagpur and Pune. However, instead, a Vande Bharat train was launched on September 16, operating daily between Nagpur and Secunderabad, except on Tuesdays.