June 3, 2025 - The long-awaited Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and Katra is expected to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, according to media reports. This will mark the first-ever rail connection between Kashmir Valley and the rest of India.

The inaugural date was earlier set for April 19, but the Prime Minister's visit was cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions. Later, a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 further delayed the plans. Now, PM Modi is expected to not only inaugurate the train but also address a public rally at Katra Stadium on June 6.

The high-speed Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Katra will significantly reduce the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar.

Until now, rail services in the Kashmir Valley have been limited to the Baramulla-Sangaldan section, while trains from outside stopped at Katra. With this launch, the Vande Bharat Express will run directly from Katra to Srinagar and Baramulla, cutting the 6-7 hour road journey down to just three hours. This development is expected to benefit thousands of Vaishno Devi pilgrims and tourists heading to the Valley.

The Vande Bharat Express is said to be specially designed with anti-freezing features and can run smoothly in conditions as low as -20 degrees celsius. It has advanced heating systems, anti-spall layers and automatic doors. Additionally, there are heating elements in the plumbing and bio-toilets to prevent water from freezing. The driver’s cabin has a heated windshield to prevent fogging or freezing thereby ensuring clear visibility in near-freezing temperatures.

Proposed Timetable

• To run six days a week
• Departure from SVDK (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra): 8:10 am
• Arrival at Srinagar: 11:20 am
• Departure from Srinagar: 12:45 pm
• Arrival back at SVDK: 3:55 pm

The train will operate on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link.

Scheduled Stops:

• Reasi
• Sangaldan
• Banihal
• Qazigund
• Anantnag
• Awantipora

These halts are expected to greatly improve local connectivity and mobility in the region. However, the ultimate decision on the stoppages will be taken by the Railway Board.

Scenic Route

The Vande Bharat Express will also pass over two landmarks - the Anji Khan Bridge and the iconic Chenab Bridge. The latter is the world’s highest railway bridge - 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower and nearly five times higher than Qutub Minar.

The Katra-Srinagar train is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project, which stretches 272 km and includes 119 km of tunnels. The project has been completed at a cost of Rs 42, 930 crore. The train can travel at a maximum speed of 160 km/hour but operation speed will be lesser. As per sources, on the Chenab Bridge the train is expected to have a lower speed limit at 85 km/hour.