Vande Bharat Express flagged off on Jammu-Srinagar route, opens May 2
Synopsis
After 70 years of waiting and ₹43,780 crore of engineering effort through 36 tunnels and 943 bridges across the Pir Panjal, the Vande Bharat Express now runs directly from Jammu to Srinagar — giving Kashmir an all-weather rail lifeline and a major economic boost.
Key Takeaways
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on 30 April 2025 .
The service opens to the public on 2 May 2025 , running six days a week (no service on Tuesdays).
The 20-coach train covers 267 km and features the Kavach safety system, GPS information display, and rotating seats.
The USBRL project cost ₹43,780 crore , includes 36 tunnels (119 km) and 943 bridges , and took over two decades to complete.
The rail link ends a 70-year wait for direct rail connectivity between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.
Stations at Jammu Tawi, Katra, Udhampur, and Budgam are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme .
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday, 30 April 2025, flagged off the direct 20-coach Vande Bharat Express train service between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar, marking a historic expansion of rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. The service will be open to the public from 2 May 2025, operating six days a week with no service on Tuesdays.
Key Developments at the Flag-Off
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister of State (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh were present at the flag-off ceremony. The inaugural Vande Bharat train departed from Jammu Tawi Railway Station and will cover a total distance of 267 kilometres to Srinagar. Simultaneously, a train from Srinagar also commenced its journey towards Jammu, according to officials.
This is an extension of the Katra–Srinagar service that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated on 6 June 2025. The latest milestone stretches that connectivity further south to Jammu Tawi Railway Station, completing a long-awaited direct link between the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Engineering Marvel Behind the Route
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which makes this service possible, was built at a cost of ₹43,780 crore and is widely regarded as one of the most difficult railway projects ever completed anywhere in the world. The project features 36 tunnels spanning 119 km and 943 bridges, cutting through the formidable Pir Panjal mountains. Work on this link began in the late 1990s, making its completion a journey of over two decades.
Notably, the Kashmir Valley saw its first electric train as recently as February 2024, while a dedicated Jammu Railway Division was created in January 2025. The Udhampur-Katra section had been commissioned back in 2014, and a train service within the Valley was first started in October 2008. The rail link to the Valley had remained an unfulfilled aspiration for over 70 years.
Features of the Vande Bharat Train
Built using indigenous technology, the 20-coach Vande Bharat Express is equipped with a suite of modern amenities. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the train features the 'Kavach' safety system for passenger security, a GPS-based passenger information system, and comfortable rotating seats.
Point of View
But its strategic significance goes beyond tourism optics. For decades, the Jammu–Srinagar highway's vulnerability to landslides and shooting stones left the Valley dangerously dependent on a single artery — a chokepoint with serious economic, security, and humanitarian implications. The rail link changes that calculus. The harder question now is frequency and resilience: a six-days-a-week schedule is a start, but the Valley's connectivity needs — especially during winter highway closures — will demand rapid scaling of both passenger and cargo services. The ₹43,780 crore investment only pays its full dividend if operations are sustained year-round through the tunnel network's all-weather promise.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Jammu to Srinagar Vande Bharat Express start for the public?
The Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express opens to the public on 2 May 2025. It will run six days a week, with no service on Tuesdays.
What is the distance covered by the Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat train?
The Vande Bharat Express covers a total distance of 267 kilometres between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar. The route traverses the challenging terrain of the Pir Panjal mountains through tunnels and bridges.
How much did the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link cost?
The USBRL project was built at a total cost of ₹43,780 crore. It includes 36 tunnels spanning 119 km and 943 bridges, making it one of the most complex railway projects ever completed.
What safety and passenger features does the Vande Bharat train on this route offer?
The train is equipped with the 'Kavach' anti-collision safety system, a GPS-based passenger information system, and comfortable rotating seats. It was constructed using indigenous technology and offers a world-class travel experience, according to railway officials.
Why is the Jammu–Srinagar rail link historically significant?
Direct rail connectivity between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley had remained an unfulfilled aspiration for over 70 years. The project, started in the late 1990s, provides an all-weather alternative to the Jammu–Srinagar national highway, which frequently closes due to landslides and shooting stones.
