Jammu, Apr 22 (NVI): Direct train connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar is set to become a reality from April 30, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw scheduled to flag off a Vande Bharat Express from Jammu Railway Station, official sources said on Wednesday.
He will be joined by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, along with Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma and senior railway officials during the inauguration.
“All preparations have been finalised. Trial runs have been successful, tracks are ready and security arrangements are in place,” sources said, confirming the launch of the direct service between the two capital cities of the Union Territory.
At present, Vande Bharat trains operate between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar. These services will now be extended to Jammu with revised schedules to be announced shortly.
The new service is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar and enhance all-weather connectivity, especially during disruptions on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The development comes ahead of the biannual Darbar Move, with Civil Secretariat offices scheduled to close in Jammu by April 30 (for five-day offices) and May 2 (for six-day offices), and reopen in Srinagar on May 4.
Officials said the service will also benefit pilgrims travelling for the annual Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3, enabling smoother access to the Kashmir Valley via rail.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier inaugurated the Srinagar–Katra Vande Bharat service in June 2025 along with the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), providing all-weather rail connectivity to the Valley.
The upcoming extension to Jammu marks a major step in strengthening rail infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, with officials indicating that additional services could be introduced in the future.(NVI)
