First direct Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar begins, cutting travel to about five hours via the USBRL, boosting tourism, trade and year round connectivity.
Railway police inspect the train. (Image: PTI)
The first direct Vande Bharat Express service between Jammu and Srinagar officially began commercial operations on Friday, marking a major milestone in rail connectivity for Jammu and Kashmir.
Flagged off earlier this week by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the semi-high-speed train is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities and provide an all-weather alternative to the frequently disrupted Jammu-Srinagar highway.
Travel Time And Route
The direct Vande Bharat service cuts the journey between Jammu and Srinagar to around five hours, compared to the 7-10 hour road journey that is often affected by landslides, snowfall and highway closures on NH44.
The train operates through the strategically important Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, one of Indian Railways’ most ambitious mountain railway projects.
Train Schedule
According to railway schedules, two pairs of Vande Bharat trains will operate six days a week between Jammu and Srinagar.
One morning service departs Jammu Tawi around 6:20 am and reaches Srinagar at approximately 11:10 am. The return train leaves Srinagar around 2 pm and reaches Jammu in the evening.
The train will stop at key stations including:
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra,Reasi, Banihal
Fare Details
Ticket prices for the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express start from around Rs 665-715 for Chair Car (CC) class, depending on the train and booking category.
Executive Chair Car fares are expected to be higher.
Booking And Availability
Passengers can book tickets through:
IRCTC website and appRailway reservation countersAuthorised booking platforms such as MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and ConfirmTkt
The train has witnessed extremely strong demand since bookings opened, with several initial services reportedly nearing full occupancy.
Why The Service Matters
The launch is being seen as a transformative moment for connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from boosting tourism, the direct rail link is expected to improve trade, reduce travel disruptions and strengthen year-round access to the Kashmir Valley.
Railway officials have described the project as one of the most technically challenging rail corridors built in India because of the mountainous terrain, tunnels and high bridges involved in the route.
Srinagar, India, India
Read More
