SRINAGAR: Indian Railways has approved a third Vande Bharat Express between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar via Udhampur, providing an additional rail service on the busy Jammu-Kashmir route.
The new service will operate as Train Nos. 26407/26408 Jammu Tawi-Srinagar-Jammu Tawi Vande Bharat Express, according to a letter from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on X.
The additional train has been approved amid sustained demand for the existing Vande Bharat services between Jammu and Srinagar. The Railways said the two trains currently operating on the route have been running with full occupancy since their introduction.
The existing services were initially launched on June 6, 2025, between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar. From April 30, 2026, both services were extended to Jammu Tawi, establishing a direct Vande Bharat connection between Jammu and Srinagar.
The existing services operate as Train Nos. 26401/26402 and 26404/26403. With the introduction of the third service, passengers will have another Vande Bharat option between the two cities.
In response to the high demand, the Railways had also increased the coach strength of each of the two existing trains from 16 to 20.
The existing Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat service has four en-route stoppages at Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Reasi and Banihal.
The train covers the 269-kilometre Jammu Tawi-Srinagar route in 4 hours and 45 minutes.
The new service is expected to add capacity on the Jammu-Srinagar rail corridor and provide passengers with an additional travel option between the two cities.
