Srinagar – Katra train set to roll out after Jan 20

Srinagar, Jan 03: The long-awaited Srinagar-Katra train is expected to begin operations on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) after January 20, connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country through the Indian railway network.
An official from Northern Railways told Rising Kashmir that all preparations have been completed, and successful trial runs have paved the way for the train’s launch.
“All preparations have been finalized, and the trial runs conducted on the USBRL have been successful. We are now ready to operationalize the Katra-Srinagar train link,” he said.
The official said that the service will provide a faster and more efficient transportation option, enhancing connectivity and transforming travel across the region.
As part of the ongoing development, the Railway Ministry has reorganized the Firozpur division to establish a new Jammu division under the Northern Railway Zone.
The Jammu division will consist of five sections: Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur, Srinagar-Baramulla, Bhogpur Sirwal-Pathankot, Batala (excluding)-Pathankot, and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar. The combined length of these sections will be 742.1 kilometers.
Meanwhile the inspection by the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) for the final phase of the Katra-Reasi section, covering 17 kilometers, has been rescheduled.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has instructed Northern Railways to arrange the movement of the inspection carriage for the CRS on January 7 and 8.
During the inspection, senior railway officials from various divisions will accompany the CRS.
Officials stated that the Commissioner of Railways Safety will submit a detailed inspection report to the Union government after the assessment is completed.
Earlier, the inspection was initially scheduled for January 5 and 6, 2025. Once this inspection is complete, the 272 km-long USBRL project will be fully operational.
On Friday Northern Railways also released the train schedules for the Katra-Srinagar route. The Vande Bharat Express will depart from Katra at 8:10 AM, arriving in Srinagar at 11:20 AM. The Mail Express will operate two daily services from Katra to Srinagar, departing at 9:50 AM and 3:00 PM, with arrival times at 1:10 PM and 6:20 PM, respectively.
It said that for the return journey, the Mail Express will leave Srinagar at 8:55 AM, reaching Katra by 12:05 PM. The Vande Bharat Express will depart from Srinagar at 12:45 PM, arriving in Katra at 3:55 PM. Another Mail Express service will leave Srinagar at 3:10 PM, completing its journey by 6:30 PM.