15-minute booking rule drives record ridership on Vande Bharat trains in southern India
Indian Railways' policy allowing passengers to book tickets just 15 minutes before departure has significantly boosted ridership and revenue for Vande Bharat Express trains in the Southern Railway (SR) zone, officials said.
The 24 Vande Bharat services operated by Southern Railway now connect major cities across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. In the financial year 2025-26, these semi-high-speed trains carried 77.38 lakh passengers and generated revenue of Rs 803.86 crore, up from 54.12 lakh passengers and Rs 540.65 crore in the previous year.
In the first two months of the current financial year (April-May 2026), the trains have already ferried 15.21 lakh passengers and earned Rs 162.96 crore, reflecting sustained demand.
According to S.N. Narain, Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway, several routes have recorded occupancy levels exceeding 100%, including the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil, and Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram services.
The 15-minute current booking facility, introduced to attract last-minute travellers, has been particularly popular among passengers who prefer short-notice travel. The policy allows booking of tickets from any railway station up to 15 minutes before the scheduled departure, subject to seat availability.
Railway analysts attribute the growth to the convenience offered by the window, combined with the speed and comfort of Vande Bharat trains, which run at speeds of up to 160 km/h on select sections.
The Southern Railway has also deployed additional staff at major stations to facilitate smooth current bookings and reduce queues. The zone plans to introduce more Vande Bharat services on high-demand routes in the coming months, based on the positive response.
