Now you can travel from Katra to Srinagar in just 3 hours for only Rs 700.
Starting from Saturday, June 7, 2025, two new Vande Bharat trains will begin operating between Katra and Srinagar.
This will make it much easier for pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi to reach Srinagar. These new trains are a major gift for the people of Kashmir and tourists alike.
Passing through scenic valleys, the fast and comfortable Vande Bharat Express could soon become a new symbol of Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate these trains on June 6, and they will be open to the public from June 7.
Reach Srinagar in Just 3 Hours
The journey from Katra to Srinagar will now take only 3 hours with these new trains.
Train number 26401 will depart Katra at 8:10 AM and reach Srinagar at 11:08 AM, stopping for two minutes at Banihal.
Chair car fare will be ₹715, and Executive Class fare will be ₹1,320. The return train, number 26402, will leave Srinagar at 2:00 PM and arrive in Katra at 4:58 PM.
Return fares will be ₹880 (chair car) and ₹1,515 (executive). This train will run six days a week, except Tuesdays.
Timings and Fare of the Second Train
Another train, number 26403, will leave Katra at 2:55 PM and reach Srinagar at 5:53 PM, taking 2 hours and 58 minutes.
Fares are slightly lower: ₹660 for chair car and ₹1,270 for Executive Class, due to reduced catering charges.
The return train, number 26404, will leave Srinagar at 8:00 AM and reach Katra by 10:58 AM, with fares of ₹715 and ₹1,320. This train will not run on Wednesdays.
Kashmir Now Linked to the National Rail Network
With the launch of these Vande Bharat trains, Kashmir is now connected to India’s main railway network.
Earlier, trains operated within the Kashmir Valley, but there was no link to the national network.
This has become possible with the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL).
Trains Designed for Harsh Weather
These trains are specially designed to operate even during Kashmir’s extreme cold and snowfall.
They have silicon heating pads and self-heating cables to prevent freezing of water and bio-toilet pipes.
Coaches are equipped with heaters, 360-degree rotating seats, and mobile charging points to ensure a comfortable journey in all seasons.
Jammu to Be Connected Soon
Right now, the trains will only run between Katra and Srinagar. However, there are plans to extend the service to Jammu once work at the Jammu railway station is complete.
According to the Railway Ministry, the extension will happen as soon as the station is ready.
