Demand grows in Kashmir for direct Srinagar-Delhi train link

With regular passenger services of the Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar commencing last week, demand is rising in the Valley for a direct rail link between Srinagar and the national capital.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently flagged off a 20-coach Vande Bharat Express, establishing a direct rail connection between Jammu and Srinagar through the rugged Himalayan terrain. Regular passenger services began on May 2 and have received a strong response.

In the Valley, many stakeholders are now calling for extending the service to connect Srinagar directly with Delhi and other parts of the country.

“We welcome the train connecting Srinagar and Jammu. But there should be a direct train from Srinagar to Delhi and other parts of the country,” said Faiz Bakshi, general secretary of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Valley’s leading business body.

He noted that such a service would particularly benefit students and patients who frequently travel to Delhi.

At present, two Vande Bharat services operate between Jammu and Srinagar, with emphasis on operational stability and maintenance given the challenging terrain and extensive tunnel network. Officials said work is underway to double the railway line between Qazigund and Baramulla to increase capacity.

The current service has reduced travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to under five hours.

Bashir Ahmed, chairman of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-Cum-Dealers Union, said a direct Srinagar–Delhi train would be a significant step forward. “It will bring major relief to people across Kashmir. It will also give a big boost to tourism,” he said, adding that the demand has already been raised with the authorities.

He described the Jammu–Srinagar rail link as a welcome development and expressed hope that direct trains to destinations outside Jammu and Kashmir, especially Delhi, would begin soon.