A 22-bogie train ran between Katra and Srinagar railway stations on January 19, 2025. It was the first successful trial run on the newly completed line to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The train, comprising 18 AC coaches, two luggage carriers and two engines, reached the destination in just four hours from Katra in Reasi district to Srinagar. This was the first trial run between Katra and Srinagar, after the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Northern Circle) Dinesh Chand Deshwal authorised the opening of the newly constructed broad gauge line.
A new Vande Bharat Express train is set to connect Jammu and Srinagar, offering a world-class travel experience for residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The semi-high-speed train, which has arrived in Delhi, is the latest addition to the Indian Railways fleet.
The train is more sophisticated as compared to the fleet of 136 functional Vande Bharat Express trains because of additional features It is specially designed to meet the operational challenges in extreme weather conditions of Kashmir.
The new train is all set to run between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) and Srinagar anytime now. Manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, the train has advanced heating systems for passengers. The driver’s cabin is equipped with a heated windshield to prevent fogging and freezing.
The jubilation and enthusiasm among the people in Kashmir melted down after the authorities decided against a direct train from Delhi to Kashmir on security reasons. Officials say the decision regarding change of train has been taken because the safety and security of the passengers going towards Srinagar has to be ensured. That said, connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country marks the beginning of a new era, as this shall be the first all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
