Srinagar: The much-awaited direct train connecting Jammu and Srinagar, the two capitals of Jammu and Kashmir, is expected to start soon. A senior railway official said this comes at a time when the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been closed for more than a fortnight, disrupting public and vehicular movement. This has caused a loss of ₹700 crore to the horticulture sector during the apple harvest season, leading to protests in the Valley.
This strategic 250-kilometer-long highway is the lifeline connecting the Valley to the rest of the country, but a direct rail link of over 272 kilometers could provide an all-weather alternative to the region. The official explained that the direct rail link between Jammu and Kashmir could not be started due to ongoing expansion work at the Jammu railway station.
Katra to Srinagar Vande Bharat Express
Currently, two eight-coach Vande Bharat Express trains, each with a capacity of 900 passengers, will run between Katra station and Srinagar railway station from June 2025. A senior official told ETV Bharat, “The expansion work at Jammu railway station was targeted to be completed by September, but the pace was affected and now there will be a delay of about three weeks.”
Work on the direct train project between Jammu and Kashmir is underway. It is on the high priority list and may begin after October. The delay is being attributed to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, Operation Sindoor, and the recent floods in the region.
Obstacles hindering the launch of a direct train
Another official said that there are three obstacles hindering the launch of a direct train: a dedicated platform for the Vande Bharat Express due to security reasons, a foot overbridge (FOB) and lift, a maintenance facility for the train, and a change in the timetable of trains running between Jammu and Katra.
The official further said, “These facilities will be completed by the end of October. After that, we can start a direct Vande Bharat train.” He added that since the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link has only two tracks, no additional trains will be operated beyond the two existing Vande Bharat trains.
Proposal to Increase the Number of Coaches
In view of this, the Jammu Railway Division has submitted a proposal to increase the number of Vande Bharat coaches from eight to 16 or 20 to double the passenger capacity due to the high demand. The official further said, “But this is likely to happen after winter as the coaches have been specially designed for this corridor.”
The train passes through geographically challenging mountainous terrain, including a magnificent steel structure taller than the Eiffel Tower, the Chenab Bridge, and more than 100 kilometers of tunnels. It is specially designed for sub-zero temperatures. It has anti-frost technology and a heating system to withstand cold climatic conditions.
“There is a huge public demand for additional trains, but this may impact local train services and track maintenance. Therefore, additional rakes can meet this demand,” a railway official said.
