Vande Bharat Extension from Jammu to Srinagar Put On Hold as March 1 Start Is Delayed

Indian Railways had recently announced that the premium Vande Bharat Express service would be extended to run directly between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar starting March 1, 2026. The extended route was expected to link Jammu and Srinagar of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, allowing passengers to travel between

the two cities without changing trains. Officials had also planned to upgrade the train from its current 8-coach configuration to a 20-coach train, so that many more passengers could be carried. This move was welcomed by many, as it would reduce travel time and improve connectivity in the region, especially because road journeys can be long and sometimes disrupted by weather conditions.

Extended Services Put on Hold

However, soon after this announcement was made, the Railway Board suddenly put the plan on hold. Late on Tuesday night, railway authorities said that due to some unavoidable reasons, the notification to start the extended service from March 1 was postponed until further notice. They did not give a new date for when it might begin and said more details would be shared later. Passengers and stakeholders are now waiting for official updates.

Srinagar Vande Bharat Express

The Vande Bharat Express currently operates between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, a section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail route that was completed in recent years and provides all-weather rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. Extending this train service to Jammu was seen as an important next step to make travel easier for both locals and tourists, but that plan is now on hold for the time being.