Indian Railway
Vande Bharat Becomes Railways’ ‘Kuber’ on This Route: Record Earnings Leave Other Trains Behind
The Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express has emerged as Southern Railway’s top-performing semi-high-speed train, setting new benchmarks in revenue and passenger demand.
The success story of Vande Bharat Express continues to gather momentum across India, but one particular route has now captured the spotlight for an entirely different reason. The Thiruvananthapuram–Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express has reportedly become the highest-earning Vande Bharat service under Southern Railway, earning the nickname of the Railways’ “Kuber” due to its remarkable revenue performance.
The train, which connects key cities across Kerala and Karnataka, has witnessed a surge in passenger demand thanks to its combination of speed, comfort, and modern onboard facilities.
Record Revenue Sets New Benchmark
According to railway figures, the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express generated approximately ₹73.35 lakh in revenue during the August-October 2025 period, making it the highest-earning Vande Bharat service in the Southern Railway network.
The route serves several important urban centres, educational institutions, business hubs, and tourist destinations. This broad passenger base has helped the train maintain consistently high occupancy levels, resulting in impressive earnings.
Railway officials believe the growing preference for faster and more comfortable travel options has played a major role in the train’s success.
Passenger Numbers Continue to Climb
Revenue is not the only area where the train has excelled.
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Reports indicate that nearly 11,896 bookings were recorded on the route during the reported period, placing it ahead of several other Vande Bharat services in terms of passenger demand.
Travellers increasingly prefer the train because of its reduced travel time, comfortable seating, cleaner coaches, and upgraded passenger amenities. For many commuters and tourists, the premium fare is justified by the overall travel experience.
Southern Railway Introduces Last-Minute Booking Facility
To further improve passenger convenience, Southern Railway has introduced a flexible seat-booking initiative.
Under the new system, passengers can reserve available seats up to 15 minutes before the train departs from both originating and intermediate stations. The move is expected to benefit business travellers, emergency passengers, and those making last-minute travel plans.
Railway authorities hope the facility will further increase seat occupancy while making travel more convenient for customers.
Vande Bharat’s Growth Story Continues
The success of a single route reflects a much larger trend across the Southern Railway network.
During the financial year 2025-26, approximately 77.38 lakh passengers travelled on various Vande Bharat services operated by Southern Railway. The services collectively generated an estimated revenue of ₹803.86 crore.
This marks a significant jump compared to the previous financial year, when around 54.12 lakh passengers travelled on these trains, generating revenue of approximately ₹540.65 crore.
The figures highlight the growing popularity of India’s flagship semi-high-speed rail service.
Strong Performance Continues in 2026
The upward trend has continued into the current year.
During April and May 2026 alone, nearly 15.21 lakh passengers reportedly travelled on Southern Railway’s Vande Bharat services. Revenue during the two-month period touched approximately ₹162.96 crore, underlining the strong demand for premium rail travel.
Industry observers believe these numbers could rise even further as more passengers become familiar with the services and booking processes become increasingly passenger-friendly.
Can the Numbers Go Even Higher?
With demand showing no signs of slowing down, railway officials remain optimistic about the future of Vande Bharat services.
The introduction of last-minute booking options, expanding passenger awareness, and the growing reputation of Vande Bharat trains for speed and comfort could help drive even higher occupancy levels in the coming months.
For now, the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express stands as a shining example of how modern rail infrastructure is reshaping passenger travel in India—while also delivering record-breaking revenues for the railway network.
