“Service to cut travel time to 4 hours and 50 minutes between two Capitals”
VINOD BHAT
SRINAGAR, April 30: In a major milestone for rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, the first direct Vande Bharat Express from Jammu reached Srinagar on Thursday, marking seamless rail integration between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.
The train was flagged off by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh among the dignitaries present at the ceremony.
Officials said the all-weather Vande Bharat service is expected to significantly boost tourism, trade, and overall connectivity in the Union Territory. Designed to operate in extreme weather conditions, the train offers a reliable alternative to the Jammu–Srinagar highway, which is frequently disrupted due to snowfall and landslides.
“This is a historic step in strengthening connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. The direct service will provide faster, safer, and more comfortable travel to people,” Vaishnaw said while addressing the gathering.
Until now, passengers travelling from Srinagar had to disembark at Katra and switch trains for Jammu. The new direct service eliminates this inconvenience, offering a seamless journey and significantly reducing travel time.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the development would have a transformative impact on the region. “Improved rail connectivity will open new avenues for tourism, trade, and employment. It brings the people of Jammu and Kashmir closer to the rest of the country,” he said.
Local residents in Srinagar welcomed the move, calling it long overdue. Abdul Rashid, a resident of the city, said the service would make travel more accessible. “We have waited for this for years. It will benefit students, patients, and traders who frequently travel outside the Valley,” he said.
Another commuter, Shazia Bano, highlighted the economic potential of the new service. “Better connectivity means more tourists and more business. This will directly benefit small traders, hoteliers, and transport workers,” she said.
The latest extension builds on earlier milestones. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the first direct train service between Katra and Srinagar on June 6, 2025. The service has now been extended up to Jammu Tawi railway station following key infrastructure upgrades, including yard remodelling.
The project is part of the ambitious Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a ₹43,780-crore initiative aimed at connecting Kashmir with the national rail network. Conceived in the 1990s and declared a National Project in 2002, the USBRL has involved complex engineering work through the challenging Himalayan terrain.
Pertinent, to mention Rail connectivity in the Valley began with the Baramulla–Qazigund section in 2009, while the Banihal link became operational after the commissioning of the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel in 2013. The first train in the Kashmir Valley started operations in October 2008.
