Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat train launched: Pilgrims, students cheer direct rail link
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the first Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat train service on Thursday, 30 April 2025, marking a historic expansion of rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. Regular public services are set to commence from 2 May 2025, with hundreds of local residents welcoming the launch as a long-overdue alternative to the congested National Highway.
What the New Service Offers
The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat service is an extension of the existing Srinagar-Katra Vande Bharat route, now stretched further to cover the full corridor to Jammu. Kapil Sharma, Chief Area Manager, Kashmir Northern Railway, described the development as transformative.
