High Demand Greets Extended Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Service

Srinagar: The newly extended Jammu Tawi–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express has recorded strong passenger demand within days of beginning regular operations on May 2. According to Northern Railway data, the four daily services carried 44,727 passengers by May 11, including 28,762 in the first week alone.

The upgraded 20‑coach service—flagged off by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on April 30—now connects Jammu directly with Srinagar, replacing the earlier Srinagar–Katra‑only run. Officials said the expansion responds to months of high demand since the train’s initial launch last year.

The service operates as two train pairs: 26401/26402 (except Tuesdays) and 26403/26404 (except Wednesdays), ensuring at least one and on most days two daily options in each direction. Passenger numbers have remained near capacity, with daily ridership crossing 5,000 on several days and weekend occupancy touching 98 percent.

Railway officials highlighted that the train’s enhanced rake, equipped with upgraded electronics, is designed to operate in temperatures as low as 20°C which is an important factor for a corridor often disrupted by winter weather and landslides on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH44).

The direct service is part of the larger Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a ₹43,780‑crore project completed in 2025 after decades of construction across challenging Himalayan terrain. Key engineering features include the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable‑stayed rail bridge.

Officials and local stakeholders say the improved connectivity is already benefiting tourism, trade, and daily travel. The route has also demonstrated strategic utility. Last year, the Indian Army transported heavy equipment to Anantnag via a Military Special Train.

With travel times under five hours and fares lower than air or road alternatives, the Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat is expected to see further demand as the summer tourist season peaks.

A spokesperson of the Northern Railways asserted, “From the rugged terrain of Jammu, across the gravity-defying Chenab and Anji bridges, through tunnels carved into the Himalayan rock, and into the sunlit valleys of Kashmir, every kilometre of this journey is an experience in itself.” He added, “The Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is carrying not just passengers but the promise of a more connected and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.”