Indian Railways, established in 1853, is the fourth-largest railway network in the world, connecting every corner of India. It serves millions of travelers annually through its extensive network of passenger and goods trains, including iconic services like the Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, and Vande Bharat Express.
A significant portion of Indian Railways’ revenue comes from ticket sales, offered at an average discount of 46%. Despite this, the railway system grants massive subsidies across all passenger categories, amounting to Rs 56,993 crore annually. Alongside passenger services, freight transportation is another critical revenue stream.
Among its various trains, the Rajdhani Express, specifically the KSR Bengaluru Rajdhani Express, stands out as the most profitable service. Connecting New Delhi with Bengaluru, this train generated the highest revenue for Indian Railways in the fiscal year 2022–2023. Operating between Hazrat Nizamuddin station in Delhi and KSR Bengaluru City Junction, it transported 509,510 passengers and earned Rs 1,760.67 crore.
Other Rajdhani Express services also contributed significantly to the railway’s revenue. The Sealdah Rajdhani Express, running between New Delhi and Kolkata, transported 509,164 passengers during the same period, generatingRs 1,288.17 crore. Similarly, the Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express, connecting New Delhi with Dibrugarh in Assam, earned Rs 1,262.91 crore in FY 2022–2023 by carrying 474,605 passengers.
These trains underline the importance of premium services in Indian Railways’ overall revenue model, consistently delivering high returns while catering to the needs of passengers across the country.
