Indian Railways has made an important announcement regarding the long-awaited Delhi-Kashmir rail connectivity. In this new rail service starting from January 2025, passengers will not get the facility of direct travel from Delhi to Kashmir. Instead, all passengers will have to change their trains at Katra station and continue their journey by boarding another train.
This decision has been taken for security reasons. According to railway officials, passengers and their luggage will be re-checked at Katra station. This arrangement may cause some inconvenience in travel, but it will ensure safety. Let us know in detail about this new rail service.
Delhi-Kashmir rail service: at a glance
Description | Information |
start date | January 2025 |
root | Delhi – Katra – Srinagar |
total distance | about 800 kilometers |
travel time | less than 13 hours |
train transfer point | Katra Station |
major stop | Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, Kathua, Jammu Tawi, Katra, Sangaldan, Banihal |
type of train | Vande Bharat Sleeper and Mail/Express |
Highlights of the new rail service
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
- Vande Bharat sleeper train will run from Delhi to Katra
- Will leave from Delhi at 7 pm
- Will reach Katra by 8 am the next day
- There will be AC First Class, AC 2-Tier and AC 3-Tier coaches.
- Coaches will be equipped with heating system
Katra to Srinagar service
- Three trains will run from Katra to Srinagar:
- Vande Bharat Express (8 Coaches)
- two mail/express trains
- Vande Bharat Express Timings:
- Katra to Srinagar: 8:10 am – 11:20 am
- Srinagar to Katra: 12:45 pm – 3:55 pm
- Timings of Mail/Express trains:
- Katra to Srinagar: 9:50 am – 1:10 pm
- Katra to Srinagar: 3:00 pm – 6:20 pm
Important information for travellers
Train changing process at Katra station
- Get down at Katra station from the train coming from Delhi.
- exit station
- Sign in again for security check
- Re-scanning of luggage
- Board the train going to Srinagar from Platform No. 1
Ticket prices (estimated)
- AC 3-Tier (3A): ₹2,000
- AC 2-Tier (2A): ₹2,500
- AC First Class (1A): ₹3,000
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project
- Total length: 272 kilometers
- Beginning: Approval in 1995
- Estimated cost: Over ₹35,000 crore
- Properties:
- 38 tunnels (total 119 kilometers)
- 927 bridge
- Chenab Bridge: World’s highest railway bridge
project progress
- 2009: Baramulla-Kulgam section completed (118 km)
- 2013: Kulgam-Banihal section completed
- 2014: Udhampur-Katra section started
- 2024: Banihal-Sangaldan section starts
- 2025 (estimated): Completed project commissioned
Benefits and challenges of the new rail service
Benefit
- Better connectivity: Kashmir valley has direct rail connectivity with the rest of the country.
- Promotion of tourism: Increase in the number of tourists due to easy travel
- Economic Development: New opportunities for business and employment
- Social integration: Improving relations between Kashmir and other parts of the country.
- Military Logistics: Fast and Safe Transportation for the Army
Challenges
- Security Concerns: Threat of terrorist activities
- Difficult Geography: Maintenance of railway tracks in hilly terrain
- Weather challenges: Danger of heavy snowfall and floods in winter
- Cost: High project costs and operating expenses
- Passengers inconvenience: Delay in journey due to change of train in Katra
Local reactions and controversy
Mixed reactions have been seen in Kashmir after the announcement of the new rail service:
- Criticism from political leaders: Many leaders have expressed displeasure over the arrangement for changing trains in Katra.
- Concern of traders: There is a possibility of impact on tourism and business due to lack of direct train.
- Disappointment of the general public: People expected that direct train service would be available.
- Support of security experts: Some experts have supported this decision due to security reasons.
future plans
The Railway Ministry has said that the possibility of starting direct train service will be considered in future. For:
- Security system will be further strengthened
- New technologies will be used
- Passenger convenience will be kept in mind
Disclaimer
This article has been prepared on the basis of publicly available information. Although the Railway Ministry has announced this service, there may be changes in it from time to time depending on the circumstances. Be sure to get the latest information from authorized sources before traveling.