The Railways has revised the route of the Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express. The train will now run via Gurdaspur instead of Jalandhar Cantt. The new timetable has been released for this train, which completes the journey in just five hours.
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Vande Bharat Express: The Indian Railway Board (RB) has officially approved a new route for the Vande Bharat Express operating between Amritsar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK). Flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2025, this semi-high-speed train is being operated by the Northern Railway (NR) zone. This new modification to the route will not only make the journey more pleasant for passengers but also give a new impetus to rail connectivity in the region.
New Route: Train to Now Run via Gurdaspur Instead of Jalandhar Cantt
Train Number 26405/26406, the Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat Express, will now undertake its journey via Gurdaspur instead of its previous route through Jalandhar Cantt. In an official letter issued on March 23, the Railway Board stated: “With reference to Northern Railway’s letter dated March 12, 2026 (No. 1-TT/Vande Bharat/2026), the Railway Board hereby grants its approval to the proposal to divert the Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express via Gurdaspur instead of Jalandhar Cantt.”
Travel Duration and Days of Operation
This premium train will cover its entire distance from Amritsar to Katra in just 5 hours. Additionally, a significant change has been made regarding the train’s days of operation. The train will now run on all days of the week, with the exception of Saturdays. Previously, the train’s non-running day (the day on which the train does not operate) used to be Tuesdays.
Stoppages at These 4 Stations
Operating on the new route, the Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat Express will stop at a total of four major stations en route:
- Batala
- Gurdaspur
- Pathankot
- Jammu Tawi
Train Timetable (Schedule)
For the convenience of passengers, the Railways has also released the new schedule for this train.
Katra to Amritsar (Train Number 26406): This train will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 06:40 AM and will arrive in Amritsar at 11:40 AM on the same day.
Amritsar to Katra (Train Number 26405): On the return journey, this train will depart from Amritsar at 16:40 (4:40 PM) and will arrive in Katra at 21:45 (9:45 PM).
Facilities for Coaches and Passengers
This new Vande Bharat Express, operating via Gurdaspur, will comprise a total of 8 coaches. To provide passengers with a world-class experience, it features two types of premium seating arrangements: AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car.
When Will These Changes Take Effect?
According to a letter from the Railway Board, all these changes will be implemented in accordance with the Advance Reservation Period. The Board has also clarified that, if deemed necessary, the inaugural service on this new route may be planned as a ‘Special Service,’ which will subsequently commence operations according to its regular schedule.
