Bhubaneswar, June 23 -- Passengers travelling on Vande Bharat trains have reason to cheer. In a move aimed at making train travel more convenient and flexible, Southern Railway has extended its current booking facility to all 17 Vande Bharat trains originating within its zone. The initiative allows passengers to book vacant seats up to just 15 minutes before the train departs, both from originating stations and en route stations.

The decision comes after the successful implementation of a pilot project in eight Vande Bharat services in July 2025. Encouraged by the positive response from passengers and the resulting increase in bookings, Southern Railway has now expanded the facility across all 17 originating Vande Bharat services in the ...