The Indian Railways is witnessing a notable shift in travel behavior post-COVID-19, with a clear rise in the number of passengers opting for reserved class tickets over unreserved travel options. Official railway data suggests this trend began around 2021–22 and has continued strongly through 2024–25.
Middle-Class Affordability Drives Reserved Ticket Boom
According to a senior railway official, the increasing financial capacity of India’s middle class is a key driver behind this shift. “The paying capacity of passengers from the middle classes has improved, leading to the rise in the booking of tickets in reserved classes,” the official explained.
Supporting this claim, data shows that around 772 million reserved tickets were booked in 2021–22, followed by 779 million in 2022–23 and 771 million in 2023–24. The number peaked in 2024–25 with 807 million reserved tickets booked, the highest since 2014–15.
Unreserved Bookings Rebound in Suburban Regions
While reserved ticket bookings have surged, unreserved class bookings tell a mixed story. Suburban areas have seen a steady recovery in unreserved bookings since the pandemic.
In 2021–22, 2,194 million unreserved tickets were booked in suburban regions. This number climbed to 3,834 million in 2022–23, 4,026 million in 2023–24, and 4,201 million in 2024–25, showing consistent growth.
Non-Suburban Unreserved Travel Still Below Pre-COVID Levels
Unreserved bookings in non-suburban areas, however, remain below pre-pandemic levels. Between 2014–15 and 2019–20, bookings in this segment were strong. But the numbers drastically fell during COVID-19, with only 76 million bookings in 2020–21.
Recovery has been gradual:
- 582 million in 2021–22
- 1,826 million in 2022–23
- 2,150 million in 2023–24
- 2,360 million in 2024–25
Despite the recovery, the pace remains slower compared to suburban travel and reserved class bookings.
Changing Travel Trends Post-Pandemic
The data highlights a major post-pandemic transformation in the way Indians travel by train. More passengers are opting for reserved comfort and planning ahead, reflecting both improved financial standing and perhaps a shift in expectations around hygiene and crowding.
The Indian Railways may need to adapt its infrastructure and services to meet this changing demand in the years ahead.
