Vande Bharat between Katra, Amritsar to enhance regional rail connectivity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually flagged off a new Vande Bharat Express that will operate between Katra and Amritsar, further strengthening the rail connectivity of Jammu and Kashmir. The new semi-high-speed train is expected to enhance convenience for passengers, especially pilgrims traveling to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, while also connecting the commercial hub of Jammu with Amritsar.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who traveled on the inaugural run of the train, described it as yet another major gift for J&K. “After 2014, J&K has been given top priority. Katra is a shining example of this. Prime Minister Modi began his 2014 election campaign by paying obeisance at the Vaishno Devi shrine. After coming to power, he dedicated the Katra railway station to the nation. When Vande Bharat trains were introduced, the second train was sanctioned for the Katra–Delhi section. Now, in the second rollout phase, another Vande Bharat train has been gifted to J&K,” he said.

Dr Singh added that the Prime Minister had visited Katra in June this year to flag off two Vande Bharat trains to Srinagar, marking the completion of the long-pending national railway project to connect Kashmir with Kanyakumari.

Train number 26406 will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 6:40 am and reach Amritsar at 12:20 pm, with scheduled halts at Jammu, Pathankot, Jalandhar City and Beas.

In the return direction, train number 26405 will depart from Amritsar at 4:25 pm and reach Katra at 10:00 pm, stopping at Beas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot, and Jammu en route.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the new train service. “It will ease travel for devotees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and give a major push to the local economy,” he said.

He also noted that the transport infrastructure in J&K, especially the railways, has witnessed unprecedented growth under PM Modi’s leadership. “The first freight train that reached Anantnag from Punjab on August 9 marks a significant milestone for the transport and trade sectors of the Kashmir Valley,” he added.

Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu also thanked the Prime Minister and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the new Vande Bharat service. Calling it a “significant milestone for Punjab,” he said the train would not only boost spiritual tourism but also enhance trade and tourism between Katra and Amritsar. He added that passengers from Pathankot, Jalandhar, and Beas would greatly benefit from the modern and comfortable travel experience the Vande Bharat offers.

Addressing the gathering at the Katra railway station before the train’s departure, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said, “We are fortunate to witness the fulfillment of the dreams envisioned by our elders under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Our Prime Minister, along with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had flagged off the first train from Katra to Kashmir on June 6—a historic moment. Many had doubted that a train would ever reach Kashmir, which was once infamous for terrorism. But today, the region is witnessing rapid development.”