Passengers are complaining about the quality of food served on the Vande Bharat Express, reporting that it is often stale and spoiled. This, along with complaints about the behavior of staff, has resulted in declining passenger numbers on the train. The Vande Bharat Express, running between Rani Kamalapati, Jabalpur, and Rewa,...
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has also been facing speed limitations due to poor track conditions, signal failures, and waterlogged tracks in the Jabalpur Rail Division. The train's top speed has not exceeded 100 km/h, despite being designed for speeds of 130-160 km/h. Passengers are also reporting that the catering services provided by private contractors are serving stale and spoiled food, likely due to a focus on maximizing commission. Consequently, the Vande Bharat Express, despite being a premium service, is experiencing low occupancy rates, with bookings below 100%, while regular trains on the same route have booking rates exceeding 140-150%. In June and July, the average occupancy rate for the CC coach was 90%, leaving 10% of seats vacant, while the EC coach had a 70% occupancy rate, leaving 30% seats empty. This is a significant decline from the initial months of operation, when the train had booking rates between 110% and 130%, with a waiting list. The most common complaints received by the railway department concern the food quality, staff behavior, catering services, coach cleanliness, electricity supply, and safety.