Srinagar, Aug 06: Northern Railway is all set to launch a new Vande Bharat Express between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Amritsar on August 10 , in a major boost to pilgrimage and regional connectivity. The semi-high-speed train will be virtually flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing.
The new Vande Bharat Express will connect Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station in the Jammu Division with Amritsar Railway Station in the Ferozepur Division via Jammu, Pathankot, and Jalandhar. This modern train service is designed to offer a faster, more comfortable, and efficient travel experience to pilgrims and daily commuters alike.
UchitSinghal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Jammu Division told Rising Kashmir that , this Vande Bharat service will particularly benefit passengers traveling to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi.
“Katra is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in India, and this new train will ease the travel burden of devotees, saving both time and effort,” he said.
The train will operate six days a week, excluding Tuesdays, under the train numbers 26407 and 26405. Train No. 26407 will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 6:40 AM and reach Amritsar at 12:20 PM. En route, the train will halt at major stations including Jammu, PathankotCantt, Jalandhar City, and Vyas.
In the return direction, Train No. 26405 will depart from Amritsar at 4:25 PM and arrive at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 10:00 PM, with scheduled halts at Vyas, Jalandhar City, PathankotCantt, and Jammu.
He said that the service is expected to ensure better connectivity between Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, especially for pilgrims and tourists.
Katra, located in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, is the base camp for the revered Vaishno Devi temple, which draws millions of devotees each year.
Singhal said that launch of the Vande Bharat Express on this route is expected to significantly cut down travel time while providing a seamless and modern rail experience.
Hw further said that train will also provide a major boost to regional tourism and economic activity between the two regions.
“The train is part of Indian Railways’ ongoing push to modernize its services through the expansion of Vande Bharat trains, known for their indigenous design, plush interiors, and superior speed and safety features,”
Meanwhile Northern Railway has finalized all operational and passenger-related arrangements for the grand inauguration scheduled on August 10, with Prime Minister Modi’s virtual flagging-off marking yet another milestone in Indian Railways’ journey towards high-speed rail connectivity.
