Extended Vande Bharat Express to run between Jammu and Srinagar from 1 March

In a landmark decision, the Railways on Tuesday announced extension of the semi-high-speed Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat up to Jammu from 1 March, marking a significant boost to rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region.

The extended Vande Bharat Express will substantially reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, providing passengers with faster, more reliable connectivity, modern onboard amenities, and enhanced comfort.

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The train is slated to cover the Jammu–Srinagar stretch in approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes, making rail travel a convenient alternative to road journeys, particularly during adverse weather conditions. The expansion of the service will benefit tourists, business travellers and daily commuters alike, while also boosting economic activity across the region.

The demand for extending the train up to Jammu had been steadily rising, as passengers earlier had to travel to Katra to board the service.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the upgraded service will run with 20 coaches, a significant increase from the existing eight, enabling the Railways to accommodate higher passenger demand and improve overall capacity. Previously, the train used to carry approximately 530 passengers with eight coaches. With 20 coaches, over 1,440 passengers will be able to travel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the first Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on 6 June last year.

According to an official notification, one pair of semi-high-speed trains—numbered 26401/26402—will run between the two stations. These services will halt only at five stations: Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Katra, Banihal and Srinagar.

Vande Bharat Train No. 26401 will depart from Jammu at 06:15 AM and arrive in Srinagar at 11:15 AM. On the return journey, Vande Bharat Train No. 26402 will depart from Srinagar at 14:00 PM and arrive in Jammu at 18:50 PM.

The Vande Bharat trains run through two landmark infrastructure projects—India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji and the world’s highest railway arch bridge across the Chenab river.