Srinagar: The Ministry of Railways has released the timetable for the newly introduced Vande Bharat Express train services between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar, marking a major milestone in enhancing rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
The semi-high-speed trains will operate with limited halts, stopping only at four key stations along the route—Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Banihal, and Srinagar.
According to the Ministry’s notification, two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains have been approved for the route under train numbers 26401/02 and 26403/04.
These trains will run six days a week, with each taking one day off for maintenance and operational efficiency.
From Srinagar, train number 26402 will depart at 14:00 hrs and reach Jammu Tawi at 18:50 hrs, except on Tuesdays. Another train, 26404, will depart Srinagar at 08:00 hrs and arrive at Jammu Tawi by 12:40 hrs, operating every day except Wednesday.
On the return journey, train number 26401 will leave Jammu Tawi at 06:20 hrs and reach Srinagar by 11:10 hrs, except on Tuesdays. Meanwhile, train number 26403 will depart Jammu Tawi at 13:20 hrs and reach Srinagar at 18:00 hrs, not operating on Wednesdays.
The service is expected to be a game changer for tourism, business, and daily commuting in the region.
The Vande Bharat Express is set to glide swiftly between Katra and Srinagar, cutting down travel time and setting a new benchmark in comfort for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This development is more than just a new train service—it stands as a symbol of how far the region’s railway network has come over the last 11 years.
On June 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir to mark this progress. He will flag off the new Vande Bharat trains and inaugurate two engineering marvels: the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab and India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge at Anji.
