Image Source: Jagran Josh
The much-awaited Vande Bharat Express service between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar officially began operations today, marking a major leap in connectivity and convenience for Jammu & Kashmir. This launch follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of the 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) and is set to transform travel in the region.
Key Highlights:
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The Vande Bharat Express connects Katra and Srinagar directly for the first time, slashing the travel time from 6–7 hours by road to just under 3 hours by train.
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Two pairs of Vande Bharat trains will run six days a week, offering four daily trips with only a brief halt at Banihal station. Services are suspended on Tuesdays (for one pair) and Wednesdays (for the other).
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Train 26401 departs Katra at 8:10 AM and arrives in Srinagar at 11:08 AM; the return journey leaves Srinagar at 2:00 PM and reaches Katra at 4:48 PM. Another pair operates in the afternoon and early morning slots.
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Ticket prices are set at ₹715 for AC Chair Car and ₹1,320 for Executive Class, with advance bookings available on the IRCTC portal.
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The trains are specially engineered for the region’s harsh winters, featuring anti-freezing technology, heating systems, insulated lavatories, and defrost-enabled windscreens.
Passengers enjoy modern amenities such as rotatable seats, charging ports, onboard WiFi, infotainment, and vegetarian meals with local delicacies.
This rail link is expected to boost religious tourism for Vaishno Devi pilgrims and ease access to Srinagar’s famed lakes and gardens, even during monsoons and snowfall.
The Vande Bharat service symbolizes a new era of year-round, all-weather connectivity for Kashmir, promising economic growth, tourism, and greater national integration.
Source: Times of India, India Today, CNBC TV18, Economic Times, Rediff, Babushahi
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