The much-awaited Vande Bharat train between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) and Srinagar (Kashmir) will start its journey on February 17, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sangaldan-Riyasi track from Katra, after which the Vande Bharat train service will start directly from Katra to Srinagar.
The news comes after a successful trial run on the Katra-Banihal rail route was completed. Now, this highly advanced locomotive will be the first semi-high-speed train for the Kashmir Valley and the third semi-high-speed train for the Union Territory. Due to the launch of this express, one can easily reach Srinagar directly from New Delhi by train. The colours of the train will be orange and brown and it will be operated by Northern Railway.
The new service will connect SVDK and Srinagar, reducing travel time from 8-10 hours by road to just three hours. The fare for the journey has not been announced, but it is expected to be approximately around INR 1,500 or INR 1,600 for an AC chair car and around INR 2,200 to INR 2,500 for an executive chair car.
The Vande Bharat Express will operate on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and cover a distance of over 150 kilometres in about two hours and thirty minutes. The train will halt at key stations such as Reasi, Sangaldan, Banihal, Qazigund, Anantnag and Avantipora.
The journey begins from SVDK at 8:10AM and the train will arrive at Srinagar at 11:20AM. For the return, the Vande Bharat Express will begin from Srinagar at 12:45PM and arrive at 3:55PM at SVDK.
This train has been designed for extreme cold conditions and has special anti-freezing facilities. Unlike other Vande Bharat trains in the country, it has been designed to operate smoothly even in temperatures as low as -20°C. It has advanced heating systems to ensure that passengers experience a comfortable journey.
The driver’s cabin has a heated windshield to prevent fogging or freezing, ensuring clear visibility. Additionally, heating elements in the plumbing and bio-toilets prevent water from freezing, keeping essential systems working even in harsh winter conditions.
(With inputs from multiple news reports)
