SRINAGAR: The Centre on Wednesday said four pairs of new train services, including two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains, have been introduced in the Jammu Division during 2025-26 to strengthen rail connectivity across the region.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new services include the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Budgam Express, the Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express, and two pairs of Jammu Tawi–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express trains.
The minister said the Jammu Division, constituted in January 2025 as the 70th division of Indian Railways, has seen an expansion of passenger rail services following its creation.
According to the minister, Jammu Tawi railway station is currently served by 114 train services, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra by 46 services, while Budgam railway station has 19 train services.
Vaishnaw said the introduction of additional train services remains an ongoing exercise and depends on operational feasibility. He said decisions are taken after assessing factors such as line capacity, availability of train paths, rolling stock, supporting infrastructure, track maintenance requirements, passenger occupancy and traffic demand.
The statement comes as the Railways continues to expand services in Jammu and Kashmir following the operationalisation of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, with Vande Bharat trains emerging as the flagship service connecting the Valley with the Jammu region.
