Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat flagged off, to provide all-weather connectivity in under 5 hours

Jammu: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday flagged off the all-weather Vande Bharat Express, connecting Jammu to Srinagar in just 4 hours and 50 minutes, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The premium chair-car train, which was operating between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, will now run from Jammu Tawi Railway Station. The extension is also expected to pave the way for a direct train service from New Delhi to Srinagar, a senior railway official said.

The Railways has also increased the number of coaches from eight to 20, significantly boosting capacity.

The Vande Bharat service was first inaugurated between Katra and Srinagar by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, with an eight-coach rake. Owing to sustained high demand and full occupancy, the train has now been expanded to 20 coaches, significantly increasing seating capacity and easing long waitlists, especially during peak tourist and pilgrimage seasons.

The extended Jammu Tawi–Srinagar service will begin regular operations from May 2, 2026, with two pairs of trains running six days a week across the 266-km corridor. The first service departs Jammu Tawi at 6:20 am and reaches Srinagar at 11:10 am, halting at Katra, Reasi and Banihal. Its return journey leaves Srinagar at 2 pm and arrives in Jammu Tawi at 6:50 pm. The second service departs Srinagar at 8 am, reaching Jammu Tawi at 12:40 pm, with stops at Banihal and Katra, while the return leg leaves Jammu at 1:20 pm and arrives in Srinagar at 6 pm.