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Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Launches Today — ₹715
Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Launches Today — ₹715, 5 Hours, Full Route, Timetable & Fares Inside
The Vande Bharat will stop at only four stations: Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Banihal, and Srinagar. Pilgrims headed to Vaishno Devi get a direct pick-up at Katra.
The wait is finally over. Today, April 30, 2026, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off the Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express — a milestone for transport across one of India’s most challenging terrains. For the first time ever, you can board a train at Jammu Tawi and roll straight into the Kashmir Valley without a single road transfer. Regular services for the public commence from May 2.
This launch follows months of anticipation after an earlier March 1 start was deferred, and comes on the back of completed trial runs on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link. The timing couldn’t be better — peak tourist season and the Amarnath Yatra are right around the corner, and this train changes everything about getting there.
The Vande Bharat will stop at only four stations: Jammu Tawi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Banihal, and Srinagar.
That’s a lean, no-fuss halt list — perfect for commuters who don’t want to crawl through every town on the map.
Pilgrims headed to Vaishno Devi get a direct pick-up at Katra, and Kashmir-bound travellers ride seamlessly onward.
The train covers roughly 267 kilometres in about five hours — compared to the eight to nine hours the same stretch typically takes by road, depending on terrain and weather. That’s nearly half the time, and without the anxiety of mountain highways prone to landslides and fog.
Two train pairs (26401/26402 and 26403/26404) will serve the route. Here’s how the schedule breaks down:
Jammu To Srinagar
Train 26401: Departs 6:20 AM, Arrives 11:10 AM (runs 6 days, off on Tuesdays)
Train 26403: Departs 1:02 PM, Arrives 6:00 PM (runs 6 days, off on Wednesdays)
Srinagar To Jammu
Train 26404: Departs 8:00 AM, Arrives 12:40 PM (runs 6 days, off on Wednesdays)
Train 26402: Departs 2:00 PM, Arrives 6:50 PM (runs 6 days, off on Tuesdays)
Ticket prices range from Rs 715 to Rs 1,515 depending on class and departure. For the morning train (26404), the AC Chair Car (CC) fare is Rs 715 and Executive Chair Car (EC) is Rs 1,320.
For the afternoon train (26402), CC fare is Rs 880 and EC is Rs 1,515. Meals are included in all classes.
Executive Chair Car adds more legroom, reclining seats, and premium service — for a journey this scenic, it might be worth the upgrade.
Book via IRCTC (irctc.co.in) or the IRCTC Rail Connect app.
The NH-44 connecting Jammu and Srinagar is notorious for closures — frequently affected by landslides, fog, and heavy snowfall, especially during winter.
Railway engineers have fine-tuned the train’s systems during winter trials to address snow, wind and temperature fluctuations, aiming for reliable operations even during heavy western disturbances that often disrupt road traffic on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway.
The fully air-conditioned, 20-coach train is equipped with automatic doors, GPS-based passenger information, bio-vacuum toilets, and improved insulation for sub-zero conditions along high-altitude stretches.
The introduction of a 20-coach train doubles capacity compared with the original Katra–Srinagar set that had been running since last year — so more seats, more often.
Bottom line: Whether you’re a daily commuter between J&K’s twin capitals, a pilgrim heading to Vaishno Devi, or a tourist chasing a Dal Lake sunrise — this train just made your journey faster, safer, and far more comfortable than anything the highway could offer.
Source: News18.com
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