Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday inaugurated the extended Vande Bharat Express service, now running from Jammu to Katra, a significant enhancement for the vital Jammu-Srinagar rail corridor. The move underscores a dual focus on bolstering safety through stringent maintenance practices and increasing operational capacity on the route, with track doubling identified as the next crucial step to accommodate a greater volume of train services.
Speaking at the flagging-off ceremony, Minister Vaishnaw emphasized the paramount importance of maintenance protocols in ensuring the safety and security of rail operations. He further elaborated on the strategic vision for the Jammu to Srinagar rail line, highlighting the planned doubling of tracks between Qazigund and Arinagar. This infrastructure upgrade is anticipated to significantly enhance the line’s capacity, enabling the introduction of more frequent and diverse train services. The minister noted that similar advanced technologies employed in Europe are being utilized in Jammu and Kashmir, contributing to the efficiency of the rail network. The railway line has already demonstrated its value in cargo transportation, with substantial volumes of apples, amounting to 2 crore kilograms, having been transported from Kashmir to Delhi, and an additional 32 bogies reserved for cherry transportation, as reported by Daily Excelsior. Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that this expansion is a direct response to the growing demand for efficient freight and passenger movement in the region.
The Vande Bharat Express, operating on the Jammu-Katra-Srinagar route, has been declared a resounding success, consistently achieving full occupancy and high passenger numbers. Its advanced technological features allow for smooth and reliable operations, even under challenging extreme cold conditions. Minister Vaishnaw recalled the inauguration of the Katra to Srinagar and Anji Khad sections, including the world’s highest Chenab bridge, by the Prime Minister, which paved the way for the Vande Bharat’s popularity. The train has served over five and a half lakh passengers to date and offers regional culinary experiences, including Dogri and Kashmiri cuisines. Its operational resilience in sub-zero temperatures, down to minus 10 degrees Celsius, is attributed to specialized piping systems that prevent freezing. The newly modified 20-bogie train incorporates higher specification electronics and approximately 3000 microchips, enhancing its performance and reliability, as detailed in the Daily Excelsior report.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was present at the event, congratulated the railway ministry on connecting Jammu with Srinagar. He highlighted the transformation of the Vande Bharat Express from an 8-bogie train to a 20-bogie configuration, thereby increasing its passenger capacity from Jammu to Srinagar to 1400 individuals. The train’s benefits extend beyond passenger transport, facilitating the movement of goods such as cement and cars to Srinagar, and enabling the export of fruits from Kashmir to other states. Chief Minister Abdullah also voiced the region’s need for a dry port and streamlined custom clearance processes within Jammu and Kashmir for exported goods, expressing anticipation for these developments. (Daily Excelsior reported that Chief Minister Abdullah said, “I congratulate the railway ministry. We have connected Jammu today with Srinagar. Today, an 8-bogie train has been converted to 20 bogies, and now 1400 people can travel from Jammu to Srinagar. This train has given us a lot of benefits now, cement, and even Cars are being sent through the train to Srinagar, fruit is also being sent to other states from Kashmir. We need a dry port in J&K, and we want custom clearance to be done in J&K for goods to be exported. We were waiting for this day.”)
Union Minister Jitendra Singh attributed the successful completion of the long-pending rail link to the Kashmir Valley to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He expressed gratitude for the inclusion of a requested stop in Udhampur. Singh recounted the historical progression of rail connectivity, noting that a train reached Jammu in 1972, and Katra in 2014, 42 years later, following Prime Minister Modi’s inauguration of the Katra railway station. He further stated that work on extending the line to Srinagar, which had faced delays, was re-initiated under Prime Minister Modi’s tenure, leading to the construction of the world’s highest bridge and the eventual connection to Srinagar. (According to Daily Excelsior, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said, “I want to thank Ashwani Vaishnav ji. I had requested a stop in Udhampur, and that was given. I want to thank PM Narendra Modi. In 1972, a train reached Jammu, and after 42 years, a train reached Katra. Modi ji Inaugurated Katra railway station in 2014. The work was stopped further till Srinagar. Modi ji started that work, and the world’s highest bridge is now standing, and today we are connected to Srinagar.”)
The Vande Bharat Express, which previously operated from Srinagar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, will now extend its service all the way to Jammu Tawi. This extension brings India‘s most modern train directly to Jammu, the largest city and primary railway hub in Jammu and Kashmir. The initial flagging off of the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, with an 8-coach configuration, was met with overwhelming passenger response and consistent full capacity operation. The decision to augment the train’s rake to 20 coaches is a direct consequence of this high demand, more than doubling its seating capacity and significantly alleviating pressure on reservation systems and waitlists, particularly during peak pilgrimage and tourist seasons. The enhanced capacity is expected to further boost tourism and economic activity in the region.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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