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India: Connecting Katra and Srinagar with 18 stops

Indian Railways is set to enhance connectivity in the Kashmir Valley with the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express, a semi-high-speed train scheduled to commence operations soon.
In the financial year 2024-25, up to December 2024, Vande Bharat Express trains transported approximately 21.4 million passengers.  The overall occupancy rate during this period exceeded 100%, indicating high demand and effective utilization. Regarding the financial performance of Vande Bharat Express trains, the Railway Ministry has stated that it does not maintain separate revenue or profitability records for individual train services.  Therefore, specific financial data for Vande Bharat Express is not available. Photo: Harshul12345, Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0
In the financial year 2024-25, up to December 2024, Vande Bharat Express trains transported approximately 21.4 million passengers.  The overall occupancy rate during this period exceeded 100%, indicating high demand and effective utilization. Regarding the financial performance of Vande Bharat Express trains, the Railway Ministry has stated that it does not maintain separate revenue or profitability records for individual train services.  Therefore, specific financial data for Vande Bharat Express is not available. Photo: Harshul12345, Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

This initiative aims to significantly reduce travel time and bolster socio-economic development in the region. This is according to India Today.

Route and stations

The Vande Bharat Express will initially operate between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) and Srinagar, traversing the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The train will make stops at 18 stations along its route:

  • Reasi

  • Bakkal

  • Dugga

  • Sawalkote

  • Sangaldan

  • Sumber

  • Khari

  • Banihal

  • Shahabad Hill Halt

  • Qazigund

  • Sadura

  • Anantnag

  • Bijbehara

  • Panzgam

  • Avantipora

  • Ratnipora

  • Kakapora

  • Pampore

Travel time and schedule

The introduction of this train is expected to cut the journey time between Katra and Srinagar from the current 6–7 hours by road to approximately 3 hours by rail. The proposed schedule includes a departure from SVDK at 8:10 AM, arriving in Srinagar by 11:20 AM. The return journey is planned to leave Srinagar at 12:45 PM, reaching SVDK by 3:55 PM.

Train features and capacity

The Vande Bharat Express on this route will consist of eight coaches, accommodating around 530 passengers. This includes one Executive Class coach and seven AC Chair Cars. The train is specially designed to operate efficiently in the region's cold climate, featuring advanced heating systems and heated windshields to prevent fogging and freezing.

Launch date

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the Vande Bharat Express service between Katra and Srinagar on April 19, 2025.

By significantly reducing travel time and enhancing connectivity, the Vande Bharat Express is poised to play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the Kashmir Valley. Passengers can look forward to a new era of swift and comfortable travel in the region.

​On February 15, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first semi-high-speed train, the Vande Bharat Express, at New Delhi Railway Station. During the event, he highlighted the nation's changing aspirations, noting that previously, people were content with plans for new railway stations, but now they eagerly anticipate the arrival of state-of-the-art trains like the Vande Bharat Express in their regions.  He emphasized that this transformation reflects India's progress and commitment to modernizing its infrastructure. Photo: GODL-India, Wikipedia
​On February 15, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first semi-high-speed train, the Vande Bharat Express, at New Delhi Railway Station. During the event, he highlighted the nation's changing aspirations, noting that previously, people were content with plans for new railway stations, but now they eagerly anticipate the arrival of state-of-the-art trains like the Vande Bharat Express in their regions.  He emphasized that this transformation reflects India's progress and commitment to modernizing its infrastructure. Photo: GODL-India, Wikipedia
Key facts about Vande Bharat Express

The Vande Bharat Express, formerly known as Train 18, is a semi-high-speed train service operated by Indian Railways. Here are some key facts about the Vande Bharat Express:​


  • Inception: The first Vande Bharat Express was inaugurated on February 15, 2019, operating between New Delhi and Varanasi.

    Ownership: The Vande Bharat Express is owned and operated by Indian Railways, the national railway system of India. ​

  • Main Hub: While the Vande Bharat Express operates on multiple routes across India, it doesn't have a single main hub. However, major metropolitan cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai serve as prominent centers for its operations.​

  • Number of Rail Cars: The Vande Bharat trainsets are available in configurations of 8, 16, and 20 coaches. Each coach is designed to offer modern amenities and enhanced passenger comfort. ​

  • Destinations: As of 2025, Vande Bharat trains connect numerous cities across India, operating in 24 states and union territories, covering over 12,000 km and connecting approximately 160 stations. 


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