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). Vande Bharat train occupancyThe Railway Minister said the rationalised fare structure of Vande Bharat trains has supported the expansion of the services across the country, reflecting strong passenger demand. “Vande Bharat services have high occupancy level on all major routes with occupancy of Vande Bharat near 100% demonstrating a change in passenger preferences,” he added.