Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express flags off; direct 5-hour link
Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express flags off; direct 5-hour link
A 20-coach Vande Bharat Express connects Jammu and Srinagar directly, cutting travel time to five hours, with operations starting May 2 and running six days a week.
JAMMU: Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off a 20-coach Vande Bharat Express linking Jammu and Srinagar, marking the first direct rail connection between the two capitals of Jammu and Kashmir. Regular operations will begin May 2, with two pairs of trains running six days a week. The service covers 267 km between Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Banihal, and Srinagar in about five hours, a sharp improvement over the eight-to-nine-hour road journey.
Beneath the enhanced 20-coach configuration, each train can carry around 1,400 passengers, boosting both passenger travel and freight movement of cement, food supplies, vehicles, and local produce.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the project transformative, pointing to stronger connectivity and economic opportunities. Railways Minister Vaishnaw highlighted the train’s all-weather reliability, built to operate even in temperatures as low as -10°C and heavy snowfall. Officials also outlined future plans to extend the line to Poonch-Rajouri and Uri, with line doubling and capacity upgrades continuing on the wider network. Redevelopment of Jammu Tawi station is underway, the Jalandhar-Jammu section has been doubled, and work continues on the Qazigund-Baramulla stretch. The project aims to reduce dependence on weather-prone road transport, attract investment, create jobs, and deepen economic integration in the region.
