New 20-Coach Vande Bharat Express Cuts Jammu-Srinagar Transit Time by up to 19 Hours

The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express has begun regular passenger service. Commercial operations started on Saturday, two days after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated it. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Officials said the 20-coach train will run six days a week. It will not operate on Tuesdays. The journey between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar will take less than five hours.

The train had previously operated between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. With the latest extension, its service now continues to Jammu Tawi.

Decorated with flowers, the train left for Srinagar from platform No. 7 at Jammu railway station. Uchit Singhal, senior manager of the Jammu Division, said the start marked a major milestone. He said it would enhance rail connectivity in the region.

“Today marks the dawn of a new era with the commencement of the Vande Bharat train service from Jammu to Srinagar — a monumental triumph for modern rail travel and the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” Singhal said.

Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express route and timetable

At the same time, the semi-high-speed train will cover about 272 km. The run between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar will take 4 hours and 50 minutes. Officials said the same journey by road earlier took 12 to 24 hours. The time depended on road conditions.

Also, two pairs of trains will run daily on the route. The service will give travel options to passengers, including tourists and pilgrims from across India.

According to the published timetable, the first train leaves Jammu Tawi at 6:20 am. It reaches Srinagar at 11:10 am. It stops at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Reasi and Banihal. In the return direction, it departs Srinagar at 2 pm. It arrives at Jammu Tawi at 6:50 pm.

Passenger response to the first commercial runs

Officials said the first commercial trip from Jammu to Srinagar carried around 940 passengers. The second train had 995 passengers on board. On the return journeys, the trains carried more than 1,990 passengers from Srinagar to Jammu. Officials said those passengers thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

At Jammu, passengers boarded the inaugural service. They described the train as a “dream come true” and a “game-changer” for the region.

Meanwhile, one passenger from Banihal said the service would save time. He said it would also remove the uncertainty often associated with highway travel.

“The journey is jam-free, comfortable and affordable at around Rs 600, making it highly beneficial, especially for tourism,” he said.

Sunita Sharma of Jammu called the service an important achievement for both regions.

“It is like a dream come true for Kashmiris, and a big milestone for Jammu. It will strengthen connectivity between the two regions,” she said.

Murtaza Sharief from Akhnoor pointed to the convenience of same-day travel. “We never imagined that one could travel in the morning and return by evening. This will benefit all sections of people,” he said.

Highway travel and safety

Separately, Shishir Rajan, a resident of Kathua, said the train had made travel easier. He said highways are often closed.

“Now travel is faster, smoother and more comfortable,” he said.

Arvind Singh, a tourist from Amritsar, said the train service created a feeling of safety. He also praised the government for strengthening rail connectivity in Kashmir. He called it a reflection of “changing India”.

Rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir

In addition, the pilot spoke about the train’s technology. He said it is the latest and most advanced available in India.

Still, the launch follows decades of engineering challenges in building the Udhampur-Baramulla rail link. Officials said the project faced many hurdles during execution. They said the service is now expected to run smoothly. Officials described this as marking a new era in rail connectivity for Jammu and Kashmir.

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