Top 10 Affordable Vande Bharat Train Journeys

If you’ve travelled anywhere recently, you’ve probably heard at least one friend rave about the Vande Bharat train. It has become one of those “Oh, you must try it once” things. And honestly, we used to think the same — shiny coaches, fancy seats, premium feel, so obviously the ticket must be expensive. That was my assumption too.

But at some point, we got curious. Because every time we checked a Vande Bharat train route, or looked up the Vande Bharat train timing for a trip, the fares didn’t look as scary as we expected. So we dug into the Vande Bharat train ticket price for every route nothing scientific, just that simple traveller curiosity.

Mechanism Used to Determine the Most Affordable Vande Bharat Train

A ₹1500 ticket can be cheap on a long route and expensive on a short one. So we looked at the fare from a different angle — ₹ per kilometre. And THAT completely changed the picture. Some of these journeys are genuinely good value, even better than you would expect from a premium train.

So that’s what this list is about — the most affordable Vande Bharat journeys when you look at how much you actually spend per km.

It’s simple, and honestly very practical. A lot of people compare trains only by looking at the ticket amount. But fares don’t mean much unless you see them against the distance. We really think the ₹/km method gives a clearer idea of which Indian Railways Vande Bharat train is offering actual value and which one feels a bit pricey.

And, surprisingly, some long-distance routes are cheaper than short ones. Even the Executive Chair Car fares can fall below what you’d expect.

Top 10 Most Affordable Vande Bharat (Chair Car)

Let’s take a look at the most affordable Vande Bharat trains based on the price per kilometres for Chair Car coaches:

1. Lucknow Junction – Dehradun (22545/46)

When we first looked at the numbers for this route, we honestly checked twice because it didn’t feel real. You’re travelling almost 979 km and still paying only ₹1550 for a Chair Car. That comes to ₹1.58 per km, which is unbelievably cheap for a Vande Bharat train.. Anyone travelling often between these cities basically gets premium comfort at normal express pricing.

2. Mumbai CSMT – Madgaon (22229/30)

People usually go crazy about the Konkan views here and fair enough but the fare is the real star. 765 km for ₹1610 (around ₹2.10/km) is honestly a good deal. And if you’ve ever taken the scenic coastal route, you know you’re getting a lot more than just a seat.

3. Jalna – Mumbai CSMT (20705/06)

This train is becoming a favourite for passengers from the Marathwada belt. 610 km at ₹1340 (roughly ₹2.20/km) is solid value. It’s not dramatic or touristy just a dependable, “reach-on-time” kind of route that makes long-distance travel easier.

4. Varanasi – New Delhi (22435/36)

A lot of people think Vande Bharat is expensive because the route is popular, but the numbers say something else. 771 km, ₹1765, about ₹2.29/km. It’s actually very fair for a big corridor like this.

5. New Delhi – Varanasi (22415/16)

This one is almost the exact reverse of the previous route. 760 km for ₹1755 around ₹2.31 per km. People who frequently travel between Delhi and Varanasi say the time they save on this train is totally worth it.

6. Mysuru – MGR Chennai Central (20663/64)

South India’s Vande Bharat routes usually get great feedback, and this one is no different. For about 500 km, the fare is ₹1210 (roughly ₹2.42 per km). If you’re someone who shuttles between these two cities for work, the train’s timing fits perfectly into a normal working day.

7. Okha – Ahmedabad (22925/26)

Not everyone talks about this one, but maybe they should. It’s 499 km and the CC ticket is ₹1210, so again about ₹2.43/km. Clean, quiet, and surprisingly economical.

8. Bengaluru – Dharwad (20661/62)

Here, you’re paying ₹1195 for 490 km, which works out to around ₹2.44 per km. A lot of people who switch from buses to this train say it genuinely feels like a big upgrade in comfort without spending too much extra.

9. Ahmedabad – Mumbai Central (22961/62)

Heavy business route, yet still affordable compared to the demand. 491 km, ₹1210, about ₹2.46/km. You don’t usually expect busy routes to stay this reasonable.

10. Mumbai Central – Gandhinagar Capital (20901/02)

The last one in CC covers 521 km with a fare of ₹1285, again around ₹2.47/km. For daily business travellers, this pricing makes trips far less stressful on the budget.

Here’s a complete list of the top 10 affordable Vande Bharat Trains based on CC Car price/km.

Top 10 Most Affordable Vande Bharat (Executive Chair Car)

Now to the EC side which honestly surprised me even more.

1. Visakhapatnam – Secunderabad (20833/34)

This is hands-down the cheapest EC journey in the entire Vande Bharat network. 699 km, ₹1515, which is just ₹2.17/km. People who try EC on this route often say it feels like they got upgraded for free.

2. Lucknow Junction – Dehradun (22545/46)

It shows up again. 979 km for ₹2775 (roughly ₹2.83/km). For such a long distance, EC pricing is extremely kind.

3. Jalna – Mumbai CSMT (20705/06)

 The EC fare is ₹2360 for 610 km, around ₹3.87/km. Still very fair for the comfort level you get.

4. Mumbai CSMT – Madgaon (22229/30)

 The coastal charm continues here too. 765 km, ₹3130, which is about ₹4.09/km. Considering Goa’s popularity, the rate is honestly balanced.

5. Varanasi – New Delhi (22435/36)

The EC fare is ₹3320 for 771 km (~₹4.31/km). A long route like this really benefits from EC seating.

6. New Delhi – Varanasi (22415/16)

Same story 760 km, ₹3285, around ₹4.32/km. Morning travellers love this one.

7. Rani Kamlapati – Hazrat Nizamuddin (20171/72)

A straightforward long run. 700 km, ₹3185, which makes it ₹4.55/km. Reliable and very business-friendly.

8. Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam (20707/08)

Same distance as the onward train 699 km  but the fare is ₹3185, so it’s ₹4.56/km. Still good value if you prefer EC for long runs.

9. Ajmer – Chandigarh (20977/78)

Another route priced at ₹3185 for 699 km (~₹4.56/km). A clean, easy way to travel across states.

10. SMVD Katra – New Delhi (22477/78)

This one is 655 km, and the fare is ₹3015 (~₹4.60/km). Pilgrims often prefer EC on their return because the comfort really helps after the yatra.

Here’s a complete list of the top 10 affordable Vande Bharat Trains based on EC Car price/km.

Why Some Routes Are Pricier Even With Similar Distances

People often assume Indian Railways Vande Bharat train fares depend only on distance, but there are a bunch of small things that change the price. Demand, meals, the time slot, the specific Vande Bharat train route, even direction everything adds up. If you look at Vande Bharat train timing charts, you’ll notice morning and evening trains get booked quicker. That popularity sometimes nudges fares.

It’s not one single rule it’s a mix of everything.

How to Make Vande Bharat Train Journey Comfortable?

Vande Bharat train is one of the most comfortable trains with the Indian Railways. However, not all comfort comes from better train facilities, some are based on information. RailMitra provides a number of useful tools and services that will make you informed and your journey comfortable. 

Let’s take a look at some of these:

• Train Schedule:Train Schedule or time table gives you detailed information about the train’s journey such as Halting stations, Arrival/ Departure timings, Halt duration and other train details. With this service we can compare different trains running on the route and select the train best for our journey.
• Train Seat Availability: Once you have chosen the best train for your journey, it is now time to book train seats. RailMitra’s train seat availability service helps us find the number of seats available for booking in real time. If seats are available go for booking.
• Check PNR Status: Once you have checked available seats and made the booking, you should check your booking status. RailMitra’s PNR Status check service helps us track booking status in real time and also if the train chart has been prepared or not. 
• Live Train Running Status: Before you leave your house to board the train, it is important to check live train running status once. With this service, we can get the most accurate train timings adjusted to delays. Without this information you can reach the station only to find that the train has been delayed by 50 minutes.

Final Thoughts

When the first Vande Bharat express train started running, most of us assumed it would always be a high-ticket service. But with so many routes operating now, and after comparing the Vande Bharat train ticket price and ₹/km numbers side by side, it’s clear that some of these journeys are extremely pocket-friendly.

Whether you’re a student planning a long trip, someone returning home on weekends, or a frequent business traveller, these 20 routes (10 CC + 10 EC) genuinely give some of the best value in the entire Vande Bharat network.

Clean, fast, modern and surprisingly affordable. That’s not a bad combination at all.