The popularity of the Vande Bharat Express on the Ambala-Delhi route has reached a saturation point, with latest figures suggesting that the train is now struggling to keep up with the sheer volume of travelers.
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The Numbers: According to the Railway Ministry’s performance data for November/early December, the Ambala-Delhi-Ambala section has consistently recorded over 110% occupancy (including waitlisted passengers and those boarding from intermediate stations like Karnal or Kurukshetra).
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The “Waitlist” Crisis: Despite the premium pricing, the train is often booked out 10–15 days in advance. Many business travelers from Panipat and Sonipat have reported that getting a seat on the morning leg to Delhi has become nearly impossible without prior planning.
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The Demand for a Double-Decker: Rail passenger unions in Haryana have formally petitioned Northern Railways to introduce a Double-Decker Express on the New Delhi-Ambala-Chandigarh route. They argue that a double-decker configuration would nearly double the seating capacity per coach without requiring more platform length.
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Railway Response: While there is no official confirmation of a new train yet, railway officials indicated that they are considering upgrading the current 8-coach Vande Bharat rakes to 16-coach rakes on this route as an immediate solution to the “waitlist” pressure.
