Srinagar, April 12, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Katra-Srinagar-Budgam-Baramulla passenger train service on April 19, 2025, a landmark event linking Kashmir to India’s railway network via Jammu. The Vande Bharat Express, part of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link , will transform connectivity, cutting travel time from 6-7 hours by road to just 2.5 hours for over 150 km.
The Prime Minister will kick off the service by traveling from the Chenab Bridge—the world’s highest railway bridge—in Reasi to Katra, where he will flag off the train. Joined by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the event underscores its national significance.
For the first three months, passengers will switch trains at Katra due to ongoing platform upgrades at Jammu station. Direct services to Jammu and Delhi are expected by August 2025. The winter-ready Vande Bharat, built by Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory, features anti-freezing technology, CCTV cameras, shatterproof windows, and heating for -20°C conditions. Estimated fares are Rs 1,500-1,700 for AC Chair Car and Rs 2,200-2,500 for Executive Chair Car, pending final confirmation.
The route, showcasing engineering marvels like the Chenab Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, will boost tourism, trade, and accessibility for pilgrims, tourists, and locals in Srinagar, Budgam, and Baramulla. Currently, rail services run only between Sangaldan and Baramulla within Kashmir, with long-distance trains ending at Katra. This link closes that gap, driving economic and cultural integration.
Security is prioritised with strict frisking and Railway Protection Force oversight. January 2025 trial runs and safety clearances confirm readiness. Operating six days a week initially, the service will expand post-Jammu station upgrades, cementing its role as a catalyst for prosperity and unity in Jammu and Kashmir.