Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Indian Railways has announced four new train services to improve travel for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and passengers travelling to Jammu and Kashmir. The new services include three Vande Bharat Express trains and one regular express train, offering faster and more convenient rail connectivity in the region.
Vaishno Devi Special Trains
The biggest highlight is the expansion of the Jammu-Srinagar rail network. Two Vande Bharat Express trains, which earlier operated between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, have now been extended to Jammu Tawi, offering passengers a direct and seamless journey between Jammu and Srinagar without changing trains. The services began after the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), making travel to Kashmir quicker and more comfortable.
Another newly launched Vande Bharat Express connects Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Amritsar. The train provides a fast link between two of North India's most important religious destinations, allowing devotees to visit both the Golden Temple and the Vaishno Devi shrine with greater ease. It is also expected to boost tourism and improve connectivity for passengers from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Moreover, Indian Railways has introduced a new Jammu Tawi-Pune Express, giving travellers from Jammu and the Vaishno Devi region a direct rail connection to Maharashtra. The train is expected to benefit tourists, students, business travellers and migrant workers.
The extended Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat trains have also been upgraded from 8 coaches to 20 coaches to meet rising passenger demand. These trains are specially designed to operate in the cold climate of Kashmir and offer modern facilities such as comfortable seating, onboard catering and improved passenger amenities.
With these four new train services, Indian Railways aims to improve travel for pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi, strengthen rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, reduce travel time and promote tourism and economic growth across the region.