Nagpur-Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express, India’s first 20-coach Vande Bharat train, will be trimmed down to an 8-coach rake starting February 19. Central Railway officials took this decision after reviewing low occupancy rates and redeploying assets, according to a coaching notification issued by the Principal Chief Operations Manager (PCOM).
Flagged off with much fanfare in September, the train struggled to attract passengers from the outset, with occupancy rates hovering around just 25%. The early morning departure from Nagpur at 5 AM and mid-afternoon arrival in Secunderabad made it an unpopular choice, particularly for professionals commuting to Hyderabad. Additionally, the premium fare, compared to other Mail/Express trains, failed to justify the marginal reduction in travel time—7 hours and 15 minutes versus 7.5 to 8 hours on conventional trains.
Passengers also preferred overnight travel options or road transport for greater flexibility. This pattern echoes the fate of the Nagpur-Bilaspur Vande Bharat, which was initially launched as a 16-coach train but was soon reduced to 8 coaches due to low demand.