In a major relief for last-minute travelers, Southern Railway has launched a ‘current booking’ system for Vande Bharat Express trains at en route stations. Starting July 17, passengers can now book available tickets up to 15 minutes before the train’s departure at stations along the route — a feature previously restricted only to the source station.
Applicable Trains:
- Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central (20631)
- Thiruvananthapuram Central–Mangaluru Central (20632)
- Plus 6 other Vande Bharat Express trains under Southern Railway division
What Changed?
Previously, once a Vande Bharat train departed from its source station, vacant seats couldn’t be booked at intermediate stations. Now, those empty seats are up for grabs till 15 minutes before departure from any en route station, helping boost train occupancy and offer more flexibility to passengers.
Why It Matters:
- Enables spontaneous travel plans for busy commuters and tourists
- Prevents wastage of vacant seats
- Makes Vande Bharat trains more passenger-friendly and efficient
This is a pilot initiative, but if successful, it could be rolled out across more trains in India — transforming how passengers plan their rail journeys.
