• Dr Jitendra, LG Sinha, CM Omar, others to attend ceremony
• Public services to begin May 2
• Journey to take 4 hours 50 minutes under new timetable
• Six-day weekly operations planned with key en route halts
• Boost likely for tourism, trade and pilgrim movement
Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar|: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will on Thursday flag off the 20-coach Vande Bharat Express between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar, marking the formal launch of direct rail connectivity between the two capitals of Jammu and Kashmir. Regular passenger services for the public will begin from May 2, officials said.
Officials said a Vande Bharat train will depart simultaneously from Srinagar towards Jammu during the inauguration. A trial run of the service was conducted earlier this week between Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
The extension of the Srinagar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express up to Jammu Tawi will be flagged off in presence of Union Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Members of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, Sat Sharma and Ghulam Ali Khatana.
The fully air-conditioned 20-coach train will cover the 267-km route through the Himalayan corridor, crossing some of the most challenging terrain in the country.
Railway officials said the train has been equipped with modern passenger amenities, including the indigenous Kavach safety system, GPS-based passenger information display, and upgraded seating facilities.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the service would provide a faster, safer and more comfortable travel option for passengers.
“This train is expected to improve mobility, support tourism and strengthen the local economy,” he said.
Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Division, said the Vande Bharat Express, after its inaugural run from Jammu to Srinagar on April 30, will begin regular commercial operations from May 2.
“The train is aimed at improving passenger amenities and providing faster, modern connectivity between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley within the Jammu Division of Northern Railway.”
He said the service will be operated through two pairs of trains — 26401/26402 and 26403/26404.Train No. 26401/26402 will run six days a week, except Tuesdays.
“It will depart from Jammu Tawi at 6:20 am and reach Srinagar at 11:10 am. On the return journey, it will leave Srinagar at 2:00 pm and arrive at Jammu Tawi at 6:50 pm,” Singh said.
The Vande Bharat service has been upgraded from the earlier 8-coach configuration to a 20-coach rake to accommodate more passengers and improve travel capacity on the route.The train will halt at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Reasi and Banihal stations.
Fully air-conditioned, the train is equipped with modern facilities including the Kavach safety system, automatic doors, GPS-based passenger information system and rotating seats for passenger comfort.
Officials said the expansion of the service is expected to benefit local commuters, tourists travelling to Kashmir and pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi Shrine.
The extension builds on the earlier Vande Bharat operations between Katra and Srinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the first direct train service on the route on June 6 last year. With the latest expansion, the service will now originate from Jammu Tawi, providing direct connectivity from the winter capital to the Valley.
The launch is being seen as a major milestone in the long-delayed Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which connects the Kashmir Valley with the national railway network.
The new service is expected to significantly cut travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, improve year-round connectivity, and provide a fresh boost to tourism and trade.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier welcomed the expansion, saying the increase in coach capacity would directly benefit the tourism sector.
“Earlier only an eight-coach train was operating between Katra and Srinagar. With a 20-coach train, more passengers will be able to travel,” he said recently.
The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat is expected to become an alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which remains vulnerable to weather-related disruptions, landslides and traffic closures during winter and monsoon months.
Officials said dependable rail connectivity would ease movement of residents, tourists and essential supplies.
The USBRL project, estimated at Rs 43,780 crore, has been one of India’s most ambitious railway engineering ventures. Work began in the late 1990s, but progress was slowed by difficult mountain geology, seismic concerns and the complex Pir Panjal terrain.
The first train in the Kashmir Valley began operations in October 2008, while rail services had reached Udhampur by 2005.
Completion of the remaining sections over the past two years paved the way for through connectivity. Among the project’s landmark structures are the Chenab Bridge — the world’s highest railway arch bridge and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
Vaishnaw is scheduled to inspect both structures after the flag-off ceremony.
Railway infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir has also seen rapid expansion in recent years.
The Valley’s first electric train began operations in February 2024, while a dedicated Jammu Railway Division was created in January 2025. Major stations including Jammu Tawi, Katra, Udhampur and Budgam are also being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
