Srinagar, June 5, 2025 – Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha hailed the upcoming launch of the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express as a transformative step for the region’s growth, with commercial operations set to begin on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Speaking at Katra Railway Station alongside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Sinha emphasized the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project’s role in driving economic prosperity, tourism, and connectivity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the service and the Chenab and Anji Khad bridges on June 6, marking a historic milestone in linking Kashmir to India’s rail network.
The Vande Bharat Express (train number 26401) will depart Katra at 8:10 AM, reaching Srinagar by 11:08 AM, covering 190 km in under three hours. The return journey leaves Srinagar at 2:00 PM, arriving Katra by 4:58 PM. A second train departs Srinagar at 8:00 AM the next day, with no service on Wednesdays. Initially stopping at Banihal, the service will later include Reasi, Sangaldan, Qazigund, and Anantnag, operating four daily trips, six days a week.
Engineered for Kashmir’s harsh winters, the train features heated windscreens, insulated lavatories, anti-spall layers, and advanced heating systems, ensuring reliable operation at -20°C. This cuts travel time from 6-7 hours by road to about 3 hours, benefiting pilgrims to Vaishno Devi, tourists, and local traders. The route includes the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
Sinha highlighted the USBRL project’s economic impact, noting its potential to expedite trade and tourism. The 272-km rail link, completed in December 2024 after 28 years, features 119 km of tunnels and 927 bridges, overcoming the Himalayas’ challenging terrain. The new Jammu Railway Division, inaugurated in January 2025, will further streamline operations, boosting connectivity to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Ladakh.
Bookings are open on the IRCTC platform, with estimated fares of ₹1,500-1,600 for AC Chair Car and ₹2,200-2,500 for Executive Chair Car. Enhanced security, including CRPF commandos at eight key tunnels and NSG drills, ensures passenger safety following past concerns.
LG Manoj Sinha praised the project as a “game-changer,” aligning with Chief Minister Abdullah’s remarks that it fulfils a decades-long dream. Plans for Delhi-Srinagar trains by late 2025, with a single-ticket system despite a Katra stop, were also noted.
