New Delhi

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said that fares of Vande Bharat AC chair car coaches are significantly lower than those of similar high-speed rail services in countries such as China, Japan and France.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw said that the AC chair car fare for a Vande Bharat journey covering 300 to 400 kilometres works out to around ₹2.19 per kilometre, compared to ₹7 to ₹20 per kilometre charged in comparable international services.

Explaining the pricing framework, the minister said the Railways takes into account multiple factors while fixing fares, including cost of service, value and quality of facilities offered, affordability, competition from other modes of transport and broader socio-economic considerations.

Vaishnaw said Vande Bharat trains were introduced in February 2019 and are currently operational on 82 routes, accounting for 164 train services across the country.

He added that Vande Bharat services operate as a distinct passenger segment with a dedicated fare structure and upgraded features such as improved suspension systems, faster acceleration enabling semi-high-speed operations, automatic plug doors, ergonomic seating, mini pantry, CCTV surveillance and the KAVACH safety system.

Keeping passenger affordability in mind, the minister said fares for Vande Bharat trains have been kept below the actual cost of service.

“The fare of the Vande Bharat AC chair car for a 300–400 km journey is around ₹2.19 per kilometre, which is substantially lower than similar services in countries like China, Japan and France,” he said.

Vaishnaw said the rationalised fare structure has enabled the rapid expansion of Vande Bharat services and reflects strong passenger demand. He added that occupancy levels on major Vande Bharat routes are close to 100 per cent, indicating a shift in passenger preferences towards faster and modern train services.

Referring to fares of non-premium services, the minister said Indian Railways’ ordinary class fares are among the lowest globally.

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Drawing a comparison with neighbouring countries, Vaishnaw said the per-kilometre fare for ordinary class travel in India is about 20 paise, compared to 54 paise in Pakistan, 37 paise in Bangladesh and 51 paise in Sri Lanka.