The days are gone when it was just fiction to travel in a train from Srinagar to Jammu. The 300km stretch marred by rugged mountain terrain was averse to all weather travel with the stretch being the only convenient land connectivity to Jammu. However with the advent of the rail project, the all weather connectivity is about to be realized.
In a major boost to rail connectivity and a historic step towards a streamlined and seamless all-weather travel in Jammu and Kashmir, a direct train service between Jammu and Srinagar will commence on April 30 with the introduction of a specially designed Vande Bharat train, capable of maintaining high speeds even in sub-zero winter temperatures, with the existing service extended up to Jammu Tawi.
The semi-high-speed train, which has been operating between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar for over nine months, will now run from Jammu Tawi, providing a direct rail link between the twin capitals of the Union Territory.
The inaugural run of the extended service will be flagged off as a special train from Jammu at 10:30 am on April 30, according to a notification issued by Northern Railway.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is likely to inaugurate the direct train service between Srinagar and Jammu.
Vande Bharat details
The direct rail link will provide a reliable, affordable and an all-weather transport option reducing dependence on the frequently disrupted Srinagar–Jammu National Highway.
The semi-high-speed Vande Bharat train will operate at speeds of up to 160 km/h, covering the 267-kilometre journey in approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes. The fully air-conditioned 20-coach train will halt at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station in Reasi and Bijbehara in south Kashmir.
The Vande Bharat service on this route is part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a key infrastructure project aimed at ensuring all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. The rail link was inaugurated last year, marking a significant milestone in integrating the region with the national railway network.
Officials said the train has been specially designed to operate in the region’s challenging terrain and extreme winter conditions, making it the first Vande Bharat variant equipped with advanced “winterisation” technology.
For the comfort of passengers, provisions have been made to channel warm air to the restrooms via special ducts connected to the main air conditioning unit. Heaters and thermal insulation have been installed in the Indian-style toilets to ensure the continued functioning of the vacuum evacuation system.
