Rs 660 starting fare as Vande Bharat chugs off on first Katra-Srinagar trip tomorrow

In a historic leap for regional connectivity, the Railways will commence commercial operations of Vande Bharat trains between Srinagar and Katra from June 7, transforming travel across Jammu and Kashmir.

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The opening of the high-speed rail link — set to run six days a week — coincides with the grand inauguration of the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally dedicate to the nation on Friday. Modi will then flag off the Vande Bharat trains around noon.

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The Railways has opened ticket bookings for the Vande Bharat trains on the Katra-Srinagar route. On Thursday evening, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website showed the fare for an AC Chair Car (CC) starting at Rs 660. The Chenab bridge is a central feature of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a 272-km engineering marvel built at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore, comprising 36 tunnels and 943 bridges.

The launch marks a milestone in connecting the Kashmir valley to one of India’s most sacred pilgrimage sites — Katra, home to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine — through cutting-edge rail infrastructure.

Two pairs of Vande Bharat trains — Train Nos. 26404/26403 and 26401/26402 — will ply on the Srinagar-Katra-Srinagar route with a key halt at Banihal.

Equipped with modern onboard amenities and reduced travel time, these trains aim to serve both tourists and local commuters with greater speed, comfort and efficiency.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the service will extend to Jammu by September, once the construction of platforms 5 and 6 at the Jammu station is complete.

“We are awaiting the completion of the infrastructure work. After that, the Vande Bharat trains will run seamlessly between Srinagar and Jammu,” he said in Jammu on Wednesday.

In an exciting development, senior railway officials also revealed plans for a direct Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat service. This version will feature sleeper coaches tailored for long-haul travel and harsh weather conditions in the region.

“Trials will begin once the sleeper Vande Bharat rakes are ready,” an official said. “The train will be faster than both the Rajdhani and the Shatabdi.”