On Monday, the engine of the Vande Bharat Express (train number 22436) traveling from New Delhi to Varanasi failed between Bharthana and Samho stations. This caused disruption for 841 passengers, who were transported to Kanpur and then brought to Varanasi via the Shram Shakti Express (arriving around 7:05 PM). The Vande...
more...

Bharat Express (train number 22435) traveling from Varanasi to New Delhi was subsequently canceled, leaving passengers stranded in Prayagraj, Kanpur, and New Delhi. The incident led to protests by some passengers at the sub-station superintendent's office, which were eventually quelled by RPF and GRP personnel. Passengers reported being transported to Kanpur via various trains and provided with lunch before being transported to Varanasi via the Shram Shakti Express. The IRCTC's Chief Regional Manager (CRM), Ajit Kumar Sinha, directed the provision of food for passengers. The cancellation of the New Delhi-bound Vande Bharat caused frustration among many passengers. Passengers who had purchased tickets at the station counter received a full refund, while those with online tickets were assured a prompt refund.

The 22436 Banaras Vande Bharat Express, traveling from Banaras to Delhi, came to a sudden halt between Bharthna (BNT) and Samhon (SHW) at 9:01 am. The incident occurred due to a pantograph failure in MC-198467. A cattle crossing the tracks at 130 km/h caused the damage. The train was stopped...
more...

at 09:05. A goods train EP-41627 was dispatched from Rip to assist. The pantograph repair began at 09:53 and the train reached Bharthna down loop at 11:49. Passengers were transferred to other trains: 300 on 22426, 580 on 12004, and 20 on 12816. The 22436's scratch rake left Kanpur at 14:46. The 22435 Banaras Vande Bharat Express was canceled due to this incident. Other trains affected include 22426, 12004, 03258, 22308, 12312, 12816, 12506, 22806, 12488, 18310, 15484, 04188, and 3 goods trains. Railway staff diligently transferred passengers to other trains, ensuring their safe arrival at their destination.

The popularity of the Vande Bharat Express trains passing through Prayagraj is steadily increasing. From January 24th to June 24th, a total of 7.36 lakh passengers travelled on both the Delhi-bound and Prayagraj-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat trains. Of these, 4.39 lakh passengers travelled on the 22435/22436 Vande Bharat train alone. The...
more...

Vande Bharat is particularly popular among youth, with passengers aged 26 to 45 years accounting for approximately 45% of the total ridership. Currently, three pairs of Vande Bharat trains operate through Prayagraj Junction, with two running between Varanasi and New Delhi, and one between Prayagraj and Gorakhpur via Lucknow. The Delhi-bound Vande Bharat train consistently demonstrates a rising load factor. The first Vande Bharat train in India was launched in February 2019, operating between New Delhi and Varanasi. The 22436 Vande Bharat train between Delhi and Prayagraj boasts a remarkable load factor of 125.83%.

On Thursday morning, the Vande Bharat Express train travelling from Varanasi to Delhi was stopped at Etawah Junction in the Etawah district due to reports of smoke coming from a coach. Upon receiving the information, the Station Superintendent, technical team, and RPF checked all the arrangements of the train. After finding...
more...

no issues, the train was allowed to leave after approximately 20 minutes. The train, number 22435, departed Varanasi for Delhi on Thursday morning. An employee noticed smoke coming from a coach near the guard's compartment after the train passed Ikdil station in the district. He reported this to the higher authorities at Etawah Junction. The train was stopped at platform number 2 of the junction at 11:22 am after the control room was informed. The Station Superintendent, PM Meena, along with the technical team and RPF personnel thoroughly inspected the entire train. The Station Superintendent also gathered information from the pilot and the guard. After confirming that all systems were functioning correctly, the control room was informed and the train departed at 11:43 am after a delay of about 20 minutes.

The Vande Bharat Express train between Prayagraj and Gorakhpur, launched on March 14th, is struggling to attract passengers compared to the Delhi Vande Bharat. While the Delhi Vande Bharat consistently has high occupancy rates, the Prayagraj-Gorakhpur route sees significantly lower occupancy, particularly in the economy class. One month after launch, the...
more...

average occupancy for the Prayagraj-Gorakhpur Vande Bharat is 54.81% in economy class and 97.65% in chair car. In contrast, the Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat has an average occupancy of 99% in economy class and 122% in chair car. This difference is attributed to the high fares of the Vande Bharat compared to other trains like the Chouri Chaura Express, which offers a similar route at a much lower cost. The Chouri Chaura Express also runs at night, allowing passengers to sleep through the journey, which is not possible on the Vande Bharat. This difference in convenience, along with the higher fares, is believed to be deterring passengers from choosing the Vande Bharat.