Vande Bharat from Katra to Srinagar: PM Modi inaugurates new Indian Railways trains on USBRL via Chenab bridge; check full schedule, stoppages & train numbers

Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 272 kilometres long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project in Jammu & Kashmir today. As part of the launch, PM Modi also inaugurated the Chenab railway bridge, Anji Khad railway bridge and flag off two pairs of new Vande Bharat train services as well.

With this inauguration, Kashmir finally gets all-weather railway connectivity with the rest of India.

Indian Railways will commence regular operations of the two new Vande Bharat Express trains to Kashmir from June 7, 2025 - a day after PM Modi’s inauguration of train services to Kashmir.

The two Vande Bharat Express trains will run six days in a week. To begin with, train services will start from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar. This is because the Jammu Tawi railway station is currently undergoing redevelopment work under the Amrit Bharat station scheme. Once that is completed, the Vande Bharat Express train services will extend up to Jammu from Srinagar.

Vande Bharat Express for Kashmir: Schedule of Train Number 26401/26402

• Train number 26401 will leave the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station at 8:10 AM to reach Srinagar railway station at 11:08 AM, taking less than 3 hours. En route it will halt at the Banihal railway station at 9:58 AM.
• In the return direction, train number 26402 will depart from the Srinagar railway station at 2:00 PM to end its journey at Katra railway station at 4:48 PM, again taking less than 3 hours between the two stations. It will stop at Banihal railway station at 3:10 PM.
• These two train services will run on all days of the week except Tuesday.

Vande Bharat Express for Kashmir: Schedule of Train Number 26403/26404

• Train number 26404 will start from Srinagar railway station at 8:00 AM in the morning to reach Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station at 10:58 AM, taking a total of 2 hours and 58 minutes. En route the train will stop at Banihal at 9:02 AM.
• On the return journey, train number 26403 will commence its journey from Katra at 2:55 PM to reach Srinagar railway station at 5:53 PM taking a total of 2 hours and 58 minutes for the journey. It will stop at Banihal railway station en route at 4:40 PM.
• These two train services will run on all days of the week except Wednesday.

Indian Railways Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link

The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) stands as one of independent India's most significant Indian Railways projects. This remarkable 272-kilometre railway network, constructed at ₹43,780 crore, traverses the challenging Himalayan terrain.

The railway line comprises 36 tunnels extending across 119 kilometres, alongside 943 bridges that connect various valleys, ridges and mountain passes. This engineering achievement provides vital rail connectivity to isolated regions, whilst fostering enhanced transportation, commerce and tourism opportunities throughout Jammu and Kashmir.

Two of the most important bridges on this stretch are the Chenab bridge and Anji Khad bridge. Chenab railway bridge is the world’s highest railway arch bridge and Ani Khad is Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge.

The Vande Bharat Express being put to service on the Jammu-Srinagar route is specifically engineered to withstand severe winter conditions in the Himalayan region. The train maintains efficient functionality at temperatures dropping to minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The incorporation of heated windscreens, sophisticated heating mechanisms and thermally insulated lavatories will ensure year-round operations whilst maintaining passenger comfort.