The Srinagar Katra Vande Bharat Express is set to be extended up to Jammu Tawi railway station, offering passengers a direct and more convenient rail link between Srinagar and Jammu.
This expansion is expected to give a strong boost to tourism across Jammu and Kashmir, making travel smoother and more accessible for visitors. It will also serve as a dependable transport option during the winter months, when road routes are often disrupted, ensuring consistent connectivity in the region.
The Srinagar Katra Vande Bharat Express will now be available directly from Jammu Tawi railway station, eliminating the need for passengers to travel separately to Katra to board the train. This move is expected to boost tourism in Jammu city while making travel more convenient for passengers arriving at Jammu Tawi on regular trains, as they can now continue their journey to Srinagar without delays or transfers.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is set to flag off the extended service from Jammu Tawi station, marking an important step in improving rail connectivity in the region.
For the millions of devotees who visit Vaishno Devi Temple every year, this extension brings major relief by removing the hassle of changing trains at Katra, saving both time and effort while ensuring a smoother travel experience.
New Train Timings at a Glance of Srinagar Katra Vande Bharat Express
The extended Srinagar Katra Vande Bharat Express services are scheduled as follows:
Morning Service (Jammu → Srinagar)
- Train No. 26401 departs Jammu Tawi at 6:20 AM
- Reaches Srinagar at 11:10 AM
- Stops: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Reasi, Banihal
- Duration: 4 hours 50 minutes
- Runs: 6 days a week (except Tuesday)
Afternoon Return (Srinagar → Jammu)
- Train No. 26402 departs Srinagar at 2:00 PM
- Arrives at Jammu Tawi by 6:50 PM
- Runs: 6 days a week (except Tuesday)
Second Service (Srinagar → Jammu)
- Train No. 26404 departs Srinagar at 8:00 AM
- Reaches Jammu Tawi at 12:40 PM
- Stops: Banihal, Katra
- Runs: 6 days a week (except Wednesday)
Return Service (Jammu → Srinagar)
- Runs: 6 days a week (except Wednesday)
- Train No. 26403 departs Jammu Tawi at 1:20 PM
- Arrives in Srinagar at 6:00 PM
When can passengers travel from Jammu to Srinagar in Srinagar Katra Vande Bharat Express?
Regular passenger services on the extended Srinagar Katra Vande Bharat Express will begin from May 2. Although the train is being ceremonially flagged off earlier, that run is only for inauguration purposes, and ticketed travel for the public will start from this date.
With the extension reaching Jammu Tawi, the 20-coach Srinagar Katra Vande Bharat Express is now operating in a high-demand region where improved capacity has long been needed.
The route will be served by two pairs of trains, covering a distance of about 266 km between Jammu and Srinagar. This development is expected to make travel faster, more reliable, and more convenient for both tourists and regular passengers.
This extension brings long-awaited relief for people living in Jammu, Katra, Reasi, and the Kashmir Valley. Earlier, many passengers whether students traveling from Srinagar to Jammu for education, government employees commuting between the two capitals, or patients heading to hospitals in Jammu had to stop at Katra and arrange onward transport. With the new direct connectivity, that extra step is no longer required, making travel smoother and more efficient.
The real significance of this upgrade becomes clear during the winter season. Heavy snowfall often leads to the closure of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway for days, disrupting road travel. In such situations, rail connectivity becomes a crucial link for movement across the region.
The Vande Bharat Express has been designed to operate in challenging weather conditions, including extremely low temperatures. Features such as advanced heating systems, weather-resistant components, and enhanced driver visibility help ensure reliable performance. As a result, the train is expected to provide a dependable, all-weather connection between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country—especially when road travel is limited or unsafe.
How many Vande Bharat trains are running in India?
India’s semi-high-speed rail network is expanding quickly, and Vande Bharat Express trains are at the center of this growth. As of early 2026, Indian Railways is operating around 160–170 Vande Bharat services (counting both directions) across multiple states. In practical terms, this translates to 80+ route pairs connecting key cities, pilgrimage hubs, and business corridors.
Major Vande Bharat Routes in India (Region-wise)
Delhi & North India
- New Delhi – Varanasi
- New Delhi – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
- New Delhi – Dehradun
- New Delhi – Ajmer
- New Delhi – Amb Andaura
- Delhi – Chandigarh / Ambala
These routes are among the busiest, serving both tourists and daily commuters.
Western India (Gujarat & Maharashtra)
- Mumbai Central – Gandhinagar Capital
- Mumbai – Ahmedabad
- Ahmedabad – Okha
- Sabarmati – Veraval
- Indore – Mumbai
- Nagpur – Bilaspur
Western corridors see high demand due to strong business and industrial activity.
Uttar Pradesh & Central India
- Varanasi – New Delhi
- Lucknow – New Delhi
- Gorakhpur – Lucknow
- Kanpur – New Delhi
- Bhopal – Delhi
- Khajuraho – Varanasi
These routes improve connectivity in densely populated regions.
South India
- Chennai – Mysuru
- Chennai – Coimbatore
- Chennai – Madurai
- Secunderabad – Visakhapatnam
- Bengaluru – Dharwad
- Ernakulam – Thiruvananthapuram
Southern India has seen strong adoption, especially for intercity travel.
Eastern India
- Howrah – New Jalpaiguri
- Howrah – Puri
- Howrah – Patna
- Patna – Ranchi
- Puri – Rourkela
These routes connect major cultural and economic centers in the east.
Jammu & Kashmir Region
- Srinagar – Katra (now extended to Jammu Tawi)
This newly extended route is expected to significantly boost tourism and improve year-round connectivity.
The extension of the Vande Bharat Express to Jammu Tawi marks another important milestone in the long-term effort to strengthen rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Over the past decade, several key developments have steadily improved the region’s railway infrastructure.
The Udhampur–Katra section, which became operational in 2014, was one of the early breakthroughs in connecting the region. More recently, the Kashmir Valley witnessed the launch of its first electric train service in February 2024, signaling a shift toward faster and more modern rail operations. In January 2025, a dedicated Jammu Railway Division was also established to better manage and expand rail services in the region.
At the same time, major stations such as Jammu Tawi, Katra, Udhampur, and Budgam are being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, aimed at improving passenger facilities and overall travel experience.
A key backbone behind this transformation is the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. Built at an estimated cost of around ₹43,780 crore, this ambitious project includes 36 tunnels stretching over 119 km and 943 bridges, making it one of the most challenging railway engineering efforts in India.