Vande Bharat Expressway: Northern Railway has extended the Vande Bharat Express from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar, reducing the journey time to less than five hours. This service will be launched soon, making it much faster and safer than road travel.
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Vande Bharat Expressway: Northern Railway has taken a major decision to strengthen rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Vande Bharat Express trains running from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar have now been extended to Jammu Tawi. This service will commence soon. This will make the journey between Jammu and Srinagar less than five hours, significantly faster and safer than road travel.
Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar stated that a long-standing public demand has been fulfilled. Previously, this train only ran from Katra to Srinagar, but now it will run from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar. Train No. 26401 (Jammu Tawi to Srinagar) will depart from Jammu Tawi at 6:15 am. It will arrive at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 8:08 am and depart at 8:10 am, Reasi at 8:28-8:30 am, Banihal at 9:56-9:58 am, and Srinagar at 11:10 am.
The return train 26402 (Srinagar to Jammu Tawi) will depart from Srinagar at 2:00 pm, call at Banihal at 2:58-3:00 pm, Reasi at 4:34-4:36 pm, Katra at 5:00-5:10 pm, and arrive at Jammu Tawi at 6:50 pm. This semi-high-speed train is equipped with modern amenities, including comfortable seats, enhanced safety, and reliable all-weather travel. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025. Since then, local residents, businessmen, students, and tourists have been demanding a direct connection to Jammu via the Vande Bharat Express. This demand has now been fulfilled.
This extension will alleviate road traffic disruptions caused by landslides, snowfall, and inclement weather. It will also boost tourism, facilitate trade, and accelerate the region’s socio-economic development. The train will now have 20 coaches, allowing for more passengers.
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