Vande Bharat Express for Jammu and Kashmir: Everything You Need to Know About the Amritsar-Katra Route - Explore Prices, Schedule, Stops Here
The much-anticipated Vande Bharat Express train connecting Amritsar in Punjab with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) started operating on August 10, 2025. This semi-high-speed service aims to enhance passenger comfort, reduce travel time, and improve regional connectivity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the train, marking the commencement of this faster and comfortable rail service between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. The Vande Bharat Express, launched in 2019, is known for its speed, comfort, and safety, equipped with advanced features such as the Kavach automatic train protection system, rapid acceleration, automatic plug doors, CCTVs, and ergonomic reclining seats.
The service operates six days a week, with train number 26405 departing Amritsar at 4:25 PM to reach Katra at 10:00 PM. Conversely, train number 26406 leaves Katra at 6:40 AM to arrive in Amritsar at 12:20 PM. The journey covers approximately 368 km in about 5 hours 35 minutes.
The train comprises eight coaches, offering two types of seating arrangements: AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car. The fares are Rs 1,170 for the AC Chair Car and Rs 2,085 for the Executive Chair Car.
The Vande Bharat Express train halts at four intermediate stations: Beas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot Cantt, and Jammu Tawi. This service is aimed at providing convenient same-day travel for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, as well as tourists exploring Punjab and Jammu.
This addition further strengthens the Indian Railways' Vande Bharat network, which currently operates 144 services nationwide. The Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat Express will complete the journey in 5 hours 35 minutes, making it a faster alternative to existing services on the route.
The Vande Bharat Express train between Srinagar and Katra is expected to benefit many, joining existing services like the New Delhi-Katra and Katra-New Delhi routes. The train will be operated and maintained by the Northern Railway (NR) zone.
[1] Indian Railways Official Website [2] Times of India [3] Hindu Business Line [4] Indian Express
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