Katra, June 5, 2025 – The Vande Bharat Express, poised to connect Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar, is stationed at Katra Railway Station, ready for its official flag-off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025. Marking the completion of the transformative Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, this semi-high-speed train will commence commercial operations on Saturday, June 7, establishing all-weather rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley and boosting tourism, pilgrimage, and economic growth.
The Katra-Srinagar 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 at Katra by 4:58 PM. A second train departs Srinagar at 8:00 AM the next day, with no service on Wednesdays. Operating six days a week with two train sets, the service will initially stop at Banihal, with future halts planned at Reasi, Sangaldan, Qazigund, and Anantnag.
Engineered for Kashmir’s harsh winters, the train features heated windscreens, advanced heating systems, thermally insulated lavatories, and anti-spall layers, ensuring reliable operation at temperatures as low as -20°C. This reduces travel time from 6-7 hours by road to approximately 3 hours, benefiting pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, tourists exploring Kashmir, and local traders. The route showcases engineering marvels like the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge at 359 meters, and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
The ₹41,000 crore USBRL project, completed in December 2024, spans 272 km, including 119 km of tunnels and 927 bridges, overcoming the Himalayas’ challenging terrain. 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 deployment at key tunnels and NSG drills, ensures passenger safety following past concerns. The launch is set to transform Jammu and Kashmir’s connectivity, with plans for Delhi-Srinagar trains by late 2025, featuring a single-ticket system despite a mandatory Katra stop.
