NEW DELHI (Metro Rail & Steel) : Indian Railways has initiated a novel approach to enhance the popularity of the Vande Bharat trains and gain deeper insights into passenger demographics. The data now include gender and age statistics, specifically tracking the number of males, females, and transgender individuals traveling on the four Vande Bharat routes connecting Mumbai to Shirdi, Goa, and Solapur.
For the first time, Central Railway has compiled data showcasing the age distribution of Vande Bharat Express passengers originating from Mumbai. The results reveal that the highest number of passengers in this category belong to the age group of 31-45 years, closely followed by those aged 15-30 years.
Between September 15 and October 13, a total of 85,600 males, 57,838 females, and 26 transgender individuals chose Vande Bharat Express for their journeys, according to a report published by Hindustan Times. This comprehensive data collection effort aims to promote Vande Bharat trains and boost ridership. The recent data on occupancy rates for Vande Bharat Express trains ranges from 77% to 101% in September, indicating strong passenger demand.
Shivraj Manaspure, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, shared insights from the data, noting, “Children (1–14 years old) made up about 5% of passengers on average throughout this time, whereas transgender people made up 4.5% of all Vande Bharat passengers.”
The introduction of Vande Bharat trains has made a notable impact on the transportation industry. Paresh Rawal, a Public Policy Analyst specializing in Mobility and Transportation, highlighted a 10–20% reduction in air traffic and a 20–30% decrease in airfares following the launch of Vande Bharat trains. He emphasized that this macro data is pivotal for Indian Railways’ revenue generation from non-fare sources.
Rawal also pointed out the broader benefits of this data, stating, “This data will give the industry a fair idea about the audience. In addition, this data will also help Indian Railways in planning future improvements in services, food menus, and other amenities.” Indian Railways continues to expand its Vande Bharat Express network. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced plans to introduce a Vande Bharat express train on the Jammu-Srinagar route, specially designed to operate smoothly in challenging temperatures and altitudes. This move is part of the ongoing efforts to enhance rail connectivity and provide efficient transportation solutions for passengers across the country.
