Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat service extension up to Jammu from March 1 put on hold

In a late evening communication on Tuesday, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Jammu Railway Division Uchit Singhal notified that the notification was put on hold by the Railway due to some unavoidable circumstances

Railway Board, ministry of railways, has put the notified schedule about the extension of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express train service up to Jammu from March 1, 2026, on hold.

In a late evening communication on Tuesday, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Jammu Railway Division Uchit Singhal notified that the notification was put on hold by the Railway due to some unavoidable circumstances.

Due to some unavoidable circumstances, the notification programme of Vande Bharat extension from March 1 has been put on hold by Railway Board till further advice. Further information as and when received will be shared,î Singhal notified

Earlier Tuesday evening, the Jammu Division of the Northern Railway had made an announcement to extend the operation of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express train service up to Jammu from March 1, 2026, meeting a long pending demand of the people of the region.

It had also announced that in another significant decision, besides bringing faster, safer and more reliable travel options to thousands of passengers, the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train, previously operated with eight coaches, would now operate with 20 coaches from March 1.

While issuing a detailed schedule of the extended train services, it had stated that with the extension, the passengers could travel between Jammu and Srinagar in less than five hours, a substantial reduction in travel time compared to road journeys.

The UdhampurñSrinagarñBaramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project was dedicated to the nation on June 6, 2025 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following its dedication, there was a strong and consistent demand from residents, traders, students and tourists to connect Jammu directly with Srinagar through a semi high-speed Vande Bharat service.

Direct Vande Bharat train to run between Srinagar and Jammu from March 1

The extension is aimed at enhancing rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir and providing improved travel experience to passengers commuting between the Valley and the Jammu region