Jammu, May 3 : The first direct Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar began commercial operations on Saturday amid celebrations, just two days after its inauguration by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
This 20-coach semi-high-speed train runs six days a week (excluding Tuesdays), cutting the 272 km journey from 12-24 hours by road to 4 hours and 50 minutes. It extends the previous Srinagar-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra route to Jammu Tawi, with two daily pairs offering options for tourists and pilgrims.
The inaugural train departed Jammu Tawi at 6:20 am from Platform 7—adorned with flowers—reaching Srinagar at 11:10 am with stops at Katra, Reasi, and Banihal. The return leg leaves Srinagar at 2 pm, arriving Jammu Tawi at 6:50 pm.
Carrying around 940 passengers outbound and over 1,990 on the return, the maiden runs were a hit. Uchit Singhal, senior manager of Jammu Division, called it “a monumental triumph for modern rail travel and ‘Make in India’.”
Passengers raved about the service. A Banihal resident said it eliminates highway uncertainties, offering a “jam-free, comfortable” ride for Rs 600—ideal for tourism. Sunita Sharma from Jammu hailed it as a “dream come true” strengthening regional ties. Murtaza Sharief from Akhnoor noted same-day return possibilities, while Kathua’s Shishir Rajan praised smoother access amid frequent road closures. Tourist Arvind Singh from Amritsar called it a symbol of “changing India” with enhanced safety.
The train’s pilot highlighted its cutting-edge Indian technology. After decades overcoming engineering hurdles on the Udhampur-Baramulla link, officials say smooth operations will usher in a new era of connectivity for Jammu and Kashmir.
