SRINAGAR: In a major boost to rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off the extended Srinagar-Jammu Vande Bharat Express from Jammu Tawi Railway Station on April 30, formally linking the Valley with the region’s primary rail hub through a single, uninterrupted high-speed service.
The Vande Bharat service, which earlier operated between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, has now been extended to Jammu Tawi. The expansion coincides with a significant augmentation of the train’s capacity from 8 to 20 coaches, aimed at addressing sustained high demand and long waiting lists.
Following the flag-off, the minister is scheduled to inspect two landmark engineering structures on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) corridor — the Anji Khad Bridge and the Chenab Rail Bridge.
The Vande Bharat on this route was first inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, operating initially with 8 coaches. Since then, railway officials have reported consistently full occupancy, prompting the decision to more than double the carrying capacity to 20 coaches.
Regular services on the extended Jammu Tawi–Srinagar route will commence from May 2, 2026. Two pairs of trains will operate across the approximately 266 km corridor, offering both morning and afternoon departures from either end, thereby improving scheduling flexibility for passengers.
The first service (Train No. 26401) will depart Jammu Tawi at 6:20 AM, halting at Katra, Reasi and Banihal before reaching Srinagar at 11:10 AM. Its return (Train No. 26402) will leave Srinagar at 2:00 PM and arrive in Jammu Tawi by 6:50 PM. This pair will run six days a week, except Tuesdays.
The second service (Train No. 26404) will depart Srinagar at 8:00 AM, halt at Banihal and Katra, and reach Jammu Tawi at 12:40 PM. Its return (Train No. 26403) will leave Jammu Tawi at 1:20 PM and arrive in Srinagar at 6:00 PM. This pair will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays.
Officials said the extension eliminates the need for passengers to change trains at Katra, a requirement that had posed logistical challenges, particularly for pilgrims and long-distance travellers connecting from major cities like Delhi and Mumbai. With Jammu Tawi being a major railhead in northern India, passengers can now travel directly to Srinagar without interchange.
The development is expected to significantly benefit pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, as well as those undertaking combined journeys to the Amarnath Yatra via Srinagar. Tourists are also likely to gain from improved access, with a seamless rail journey now linking Jammu to the Kashmir Valley.
For local commuters, including students, government employees and patients travelling between Jammu and Srinagar, the extended service removes a long-standing inconvenience of mid-route transfers. Railway officials highlighted that the service is particularly critical during winter months, when highway connectivity is frequently disrupted due to snowfall.
The Vande Bharat trains deployed on the route are equipped to operate in extreme weather conditions, including sub-zero temperatures, ensuring reliability even during harsh winters.
Trade and commerce are also expected to receive a boost. Improved connectivity is likely to facilitate easier movement for artisans, traders and small businesses dealing in handicrafts, horticulture produce and textiles between the Valley and Jammu markets.
The inspection of the Anji and Chenab bridges underscores the engineering backbone of the USBRL project. The Anji Khad Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, while the Chenab Rail Bridge stands as the world’s highest railway arch bridge at 359 metres above the riverbed.
The USBRL project, spanning 272 km and constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels covering 119 km and 943 bridges, forming a critical all-weather rail link through the Himalayas.
The extension of the Vande Bharat service to Jammu Tawi marks another milestone in the ongoing expansion of railway infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, boosting tourism and strengthening economic integration with the rest of the country.
