Vande Bharat train fares lower than China, Japan and France, occupancy near 100%: Ashwini Vaishnaw

3 min readJul 30, 2026 01:45 PM IST Vande Bharat train fares among world's lowest, occupancy near 100%: Ashwini Vaishnaw (Image: Ministry of Railways)Vande Bharat train fares: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said that Vande Bharat train fares are significantly lower than those of similar rail services in countries such as China, Japan and France. Since its launch in 2019, Indian Railways has introduced 162 Vande Bharat AC Chair Car services (82 routes) across the country. In a written statement in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw said that Vande Bharat train fares have been kept affordable, with AC Chair Car fares for journeys between 300 km and 400 km averaging around Rs 2.19 per passenger km (PKM). He said this is significantly lower than the Rs 7 to Rs 20 per PKM charged for simil