Saving Travel Time
Hubballi
Vande Bharat, the semi-superfast express service of Indian Railways, has been introduced to enable faster and more comfortable travel. From the commercial city of Hubballi-Dharwad, three Vande Bharat trains are currently operating and receiving an enthusiastic response from passengers.
The Dharwad–Bengaluru, Hubballi–Pune and Belagavi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat trains running via Hubballi have seen a steady rise in passenger numbers. Day by day, more travellers are opting for these services, with seat occupancy ranging between 85 and 100 percent, resulting in strong revenue generation.
The Dharwad–Bengaluru Vande Bharat train, which was introduced earlier than the Belagavi–Bengaluru service, has been especially popular and is earning substantial revenue. The train maintains over 100 percent advance ticket booking and continues to draw passengers because of its speed, cleanliness, good food and efficient service. Despite relatively higher fares, travellers are showing no hesitation to use this train launched under the Make in India initiative.
South Western Railway Public Relations Officer Dr. Manjunath Kanamadi said that two Vande Bharat trains run from Hubballi to Bengaluru and one to Pune. Since the Dharwad–Bengaluru train is the oldest of the three, congestion on it has increased steadily. Over the last five months, an average of 92 percent of passengers travelled on the Dharwad–Bengaluru route and 94 percent on the reverse route.
The Hubballi–Pune Vande Bharat train initially recorded low passenger numbers but has now gained traction. In recent months, average occupancy has reached 80 percent on the Hubballi–Pune route and 87 percent on the Pune–Hubballi route, indicating a rise in passengers coming from Pune to Hubballi, he added.