Summary: The recently launched Vande Bharat Express trains in India have shown below-expectation occupancy rates on four new routes, with the exception of the Ranchi-Patna route. The data reveals varying levels of occupancy across different routes, indicating the demand and popularity of the services. This article provides an overview of the occupancy rates for each train, highlighting the successful and struggling routes.

Introduction:
The Indian Railways introduced five new Vande Bharat Express trains on different routes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated these trains on June 27. However, apart from the Ranchi-Patna route, the occupancy rates on the other four newly launched trains have been lower than expected.

Occupancy Rates by Route:

1. Bhopal-Indore Vande Bharat Express: The occupancy rate for the Bhopal-Indore service was only 29 percent. Similarly, the return journey from Indore to Bhopal recorded just 21 percent occupancy. These figures indicate a poor response to the semi-high speed train service.
2. Bhopal-Jabalpur Vande Bharat Express: The Bhopal-Jabalpur route witnessed a 32 percent occupancy, while the return journey from Jabalpur to Bhopal showed a slightly better occupancy rate of 36 percent.
3. Bhopal-Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express: The 16-coach Bhopal-Nizamuddin service demonstrated an impressive 94 percent occupancy, both for the forward and return journeys. This occupancy rate is considered satisfactory for commercial operation on this particular route.
4. Bangalore-Dharwad Vande Bharat Express: The occupancy rate for the Bangalore-Dharwad route reached 60 percent, while the return journey from Dharwad to Bangalore recorded 59 percent occupancy.
5. Goa-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express: The Goa-Mumbai route experienced 55 percent occupancy, whereas the Mumbai-Goa service performed well with 90 percent occupancy.

Successful Routes:
Apart from the Ranchi-Patna route, several other Vande Bharat Express trains have demonstrated excellent occupancy rates.

1. Ranchi-Patna Vande Bharat Express: Since its launch, the Ranchi-Patna train has consistently achieved full occupancy, with over 100 percent bookings on both routes. The Patna-Ranchi service recorded an impressive 125 percent occupancy rate, while the Ranchi-Patna journey showed a high occupancy rate of 123 percent, indicating a heavy demand for these destinations.
2. Kasaragod-Trivandrum Vande Bharat Express: Among all the Vande Bharat Express trains, the Kasaragod-Trivandrum route has shown the highest occupancy rate. It recorded an occupancy rate of 182 percent, and the return journey from Trivandrum to Kasaragod reached 176 percent occupancy, indicating a strong demand for this service.
3. Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Howrah-New Jalpaiguri, Delhi-Dehradun, and Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express: These routes have also demonstrated excellent results, with bookings exceeding 100 percent on both the forward and return journeys.

Conclusion:
While the Ranchi-Patna route and a few other routes have witnessed high occupancy rates, the newly launched Vande Bharat Express trains on four other routes have shown below-expectation occupancy rates. The data highlights the varying demand and popularity of these services among passengers. The Indian Railways will closely monitor these occupancy trends and make necessary adjustments to improve the performance of the trains.