Vaishnaw joined by Dr Jitendra to inaugurate
*Connectivity between capital cities to improve further
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 21: Finally, the wait for direct train service between Jammu and Srinagar is going to be over on April 30 when Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw joined by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh will flag off Vande Bharat Express train to the Kashmir Valley from Jammu Railway Station.
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“All preparations have been made. The trains and tracks are ready. Trials runs have been successful. Security arrangements are in place. And now, the Railways Minister is scheduled to flag off Vande Bharat Express train directly from Jammu to Srinagar on April 30,’’ official sources told the Excelsior.
Vaishnaw will be accompanied by Union MoS in PMO and MP Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha seat Dr Jitendra Singh and Jammu Lok Sabha Member Jugal Sharma besides senior officers of the Railways Ministry.
Currently, two Vande Bharat Express trains are operating between Katra-Srinagar and they will now be extended to Jammu with revised timings to be notified by the Railways Department.
In addition to two Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat trains, two similar trains also run between New Delhi and Katra.
“The launch of Vande Bharat Express trains will further enhance connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar,’’ the sources said, adding the travel timing between two capital cities will be sharply reduced.
The launch of direct train service between Jammu and Srinagar comes just days ahead of the move of Civil Secretariat from winter capital of the UT to summer capital. The offices observing five-day week will close here on April 30 while those having six-day week will shut on May 2. All offices will reopen in Srinagar on May 4.
The train service will be of immense benefit for the people across the country as well as the Civil Secretariat employees. With annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji starting on July 3, the Vande Bharat Express and other trains, which may run on the route in due course of time, will offer a lot of help to the pilgrims.
“The yatris can reach Jammu from across the country and then board the train for Srinagar,’’ the sources said but added that not all yatris, tourists or normal commuters can be accommodated in the trains and Jammu-Srinagar National Highway will remain major source of connectivity between two divisions of the Union Territory.
However, in case of adverse weather conditions when the National highway gets blocked, the train services will be a great source of help for the commuters, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated first direct train service between Katra and Srinagar (Vande Bharat) on June 6, 2025.
The premium train service which has been running between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar for the past over 10 months, will now be extended up to Jammu Tawi. The PM had also inaugurated Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which provided the Valley all-weather rail connectivity.
March 1, 2026 was earlier announced as the date for launch of direct train between Jammu and Srinagar but the plan was deferred indefinitely.
The train, currently operating between Srinagar and Katra with an eight-car Vande Bharat rake, is now likely to run between Jammu and Srinagar with an upgraded 20-car rake.
The Jammu railway division, which looks after operational command in the Union Territory, was inaugurated in January 2025 and notified from June 1.
Since then, it has expanded freight operations by setting up goods sheds and handling consignments ranging from military equipment to commercial cargo from different parts of the country.
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