Srinagar: Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday he left the 20-coach Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar, marking the first direct train service connecting the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir and cutting the journey time to just 4 hours and 50 minutes.
premier Omar Abdullah and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh were among the dignitaries present at the ceremony.
The all-weather Vande Bharat service is expected to significantly boost tourism and connectivity in the Union Territory.
Until now, passengers traveling from Srinagar had to get down at Katra and change trains for Jammu. The new service eliminates this concern, offering a direct uninterrupted connection and improving passenger comfort.
The latest expansion builds on the previous moments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the first direct train service between Katra and Srinagar on June 6, 2025.
This service has now been extended up to Jammu Tawi railway station following major infrastructure improvements including remodeling of the Jammu yard.
The service is part of the ambitious Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a Rs 43,780 crore project aimed at connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.
Conceived in the 1990s and sanctioned in 1994–95, the project was declared a National Project in 2002 to expedite execution through the challenging Himalayan terrain.
Rail connectivity in the Valley began with the Baramulla-Qazigund section in 2009, while the Banihal link became operational after the commissioning of the Pir Panjal rail tunnel in 2013. The first train in the Kashmir Valley began operations in October 2008.
With connectivity gradually expanding southwards to Katra and now Jammu, the introduction of Vande Bharat marks a shift towards faster and more efficient rail travel.
Designed for all-weather operations, the train can run in extreme conditions, providing a reliable alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar highway, which is often disrupted due to snow and landslides.
Officials said the direct Srinagar-Jammu service is expected to further integrate the region with the rest of the country giving a major boost to tourism and local businesses.
