MableHaight9 at 05:54, 3 May 2026

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{{short description|Mini Vande Bharat Express train route in India}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Distinguish||text=[[Jammu Tawi–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express]], India's 68th semi high-speed Mini Vande Bharat Express train}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox rail service
| color = FF7220
| name = Srinagar – Jammu Tawi<br/>''Vande Bharat Express''
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Srinagar vande Bharat.jpg
| image_width = 330px
| image_alt =
| alt =
| caption = J&K’s first Vande Bharat train At [[Banihal railway station]]
| type = [[Vande Bharat Express]]
| locale = [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| first = {{start date and age|June 06, 2025|df=yes}} (Inaugural)<br>{{start date and age|June 07 2025|df=yes}} (Commercial) <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-06 |title=Katra - Srinagar Vande Bharat Express begins operations from June 7: Key details|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/katra-srinagar-vande-bharat-express-begins-operations-from-june-7-key-details-2736768-2025-06-06|access-date=2025-06-06 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><br>{{start date and age|April 30 2026|df=yes}} (Extension)
| last =
| operator = [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railways (NR)]]
| ridership =
| start = {{stnlnk|Srinagar}} '''(SINA)'''
| stops = 3
| end = {{stnlnk|Jammu Tawi}} '''(JAT)'''
| distance = {{convert|269|km|0|abbr=on}}
| journeytime = 04 hrs 45 mins
| frequency = Six days a week {{efn|Except Wednesdays}}
| trainnumber = 26404 / 26403
| line_used = [[Jammu–Baramulla line]]
| class = AC Chair Car, AC Executive Chair Car
| seating = {{Hlist|Airline style|Rotatable seats}}
| sleeping = No
| autorack =
| catering = On board Catering
| observation = Large windows in all coaches
| entertainment = {{Hlist|[[Wi-Fi|On-board WiFi]]|Infotainment System|[[AC power plugs and sockets: British and related types#Indian IS 1293|Electric outlets]]|Reading light|Seat Pockets|Bottle Holder|Tray Table}}
| baggage = Overhead racks
| otherfacilities = [[Kavach (train protection system)|Kavach]], [[Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning#Heating|Advanced heating systems]]
| stock = Specially-Designed [[Vande Bharat (trainset)#Second generation|Mini Vande Bharat 2.0]]
| gauge = [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|Indian gauge]]<br/>{{track gauge|1676mm|allk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| el =
| speed = {{cvt|58|km/h|0|abbr=on}} (Avg.)
| trainlength = {{convert|480|m|ft}} (20 coaches)
| owners = [[Indian Railways]]
| maintenance = '''''(TBC)'''''
| map = {{Srinagar – SMVD Katra VB Express Route}}
| map_state = collapsed
| electrification = [[25 kV 50 Hz AC]] Overhead line
}}

The 26403/26404 '''Srinagar – Jammu Tawi Vande Bharat Express''' is India's 69th [[Vande Bharat Express|Vande Bharat Express train]], which connects the Summer capital city of [[Srinagar]] and the Divine [[Vaishno Devi Temple]] in the Temple City of [[Katra, Jammu and Kashmir|Katra]] with Winter capital city of [[Jammu]] in the Union Territory of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir, India]].

This express train was inaugurated on June 6, 2025, by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] from [[Katra, Jammu and Kashmir|Katra]] between [[Srinagar railway station|Srinagar]] and [[Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra|SMVD Katra]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-06 |title=PM Modi flags off Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/pm-modi-flags-off-vande-bharat-train-between-katra-and-srinagar-2736687-2025-06-06 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PM Modi Flags Off Two Vande Bharat Express Trains From Katra To Srinagar {{!}} Check Routes, Timings |url=https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-flags-off-vande-bharat-express-trains-from-katra-to-srinagar-routes-timings-fares-9371403.html |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyagi |first=Vanshika |title=Katra to Srinagar in 3 hours: PM Modi flags off new Kashmir Vande Bharat express, know ticket prices, stoppages, timings and more |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-katra-to-srinagar-in-3-hours-pm-modi-flags-off-new-kashmir-vande-bharat-express-know-ticket-prices-stoppages-timings-and-more-3157253 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=DNA India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Rajesh Kumar |date=2025-06-06 |title=PM Modi inaugurates Chenab arch railway bridge, flags off Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jun/06/pm-modi-inaugurates-chenab-arch-railway-bridge-flags-off-katra-srinagar-vande-bharat-express |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-03 |title=PM Modi will inaugurate Vande Bharat train service from Katra to Srinagar on June 6 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/pm-modi-will-inaugurate-vande-bharat-train-service-from-katra-to-srinagar-on-june-6/article69653430.ece |access-date=2025-06-04 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |work=Moneycontrol |date=3 June 2025 |title=PM Modi to flag off Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat service on June 6 |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/city/pm-modi-to-flag-off-katra-srinagar-vande-bharat-service-on-june-6-article-13090106.html |access-date=4 June 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-03 |title=PM Modi likely to launch Vande Bharat express to Srinagar on June 6 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/pm-modi-likely-to-launch-vande-bharat-express-to-srinagar-on-june-6-2734886-2025-06-03 |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Rajesh Kumar |date=2025-06-03 |title=PM Modi likely to flag off Vande Bharat train in Katra; his first J&K visit post Pahalgam terror attack |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Jun/03/pm-modi-likely-to-flag-off-vande-bharat-train-in-katra-his-first-jk-visit-post-pahalgam-terror-attack |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

On 30 April 2026, The service has been extended to Jammu Tawi as its new terminating station.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/vaishnaw-flags-off-jammu-srinagar-vande-bharat-services-from-may-2/article70923544.ece#:~:text=%22The%20modern%2020%2Dcoach%20Vande,system%2C%20and%20comfortable%20rotating%20seats.</ref>

== Overview ==
This specially designed train is currently operated by [[Indian Railways]], connecting [[Srinagar railway station|Srinagar]], [[Banihal railway station|Banihal]], [[Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station|SMVD Katra]], [[Udhampur railway station|MCTM Udhampur]] and [[Jammu Tawi]]. This service currently runs along the recently finalized 272-kilometer [[Jammu–Baramulla line|Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail corridor]], a major initiative aimed at integrating the [[Kashmir Valley]] into the broader Indian rail system.

== Interesting Facts ==

* Traversing through remarkable feats of engineering, the special express train crosses the [[Chenab Rail Bridge]], famed as the world's highest rail bridge, and pass through the [[Banihal-Qazigund Railway Tunnel|Banihal Tunnel]], both of which play a major role in improving the area's rail connectivity.
* This new rail service is poised to be a game-changer for the region, making visits to the [[Vaishno Devi Temple|Mata Vaishno Devi shrine]] in Katra more accessible, attracting more tourists, and spurring economic activity throughout the [[Kashmir Valley]] through better transportation links.

==Rakes==
It is the sixty-fourth and '''the second''' specially designed [[Vande Bharat (trainset)#Second generation|2nd Generation '''Vande Bharat 2.0 Express train''']] which was designed and manufactured by the [[Integral Coach Factory]] at [[Perambur]], [[Chennai]] under the [[Make in India]] Initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Train 18, India's Fastest, Named "Vande Bharat Express": Piyush Goyal |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/train-18-indias-fastest-named-vande-bharat-express-piyush-goyal-1983965 |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

The train has been upgraded to a '''20-coach configuration'''. This indicates a permanent expansion from previous coach counts to accommodate higher passenger demands.
* To tackle extreme cold, this specially designed train is outfitted with advanced heating solutions tailored specifically for sub-zero weather environments.
* Equipped with defrosting heaters embedded in the driver's windshield, the train ensures unobstructed sightlines even in the harshest winter conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2025-01-08 |title=Railways unveils Vande Bharat, specially designed for winters in J&K, for Katra-Srinagar route |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jammu-and-kashmir/railways-unveils-vande-bharat-specially-designed-for-winters-in-jk-for-katra-srinagar-route/article69075026.ece |access-date=2025-04-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Service ==
The 26404/26403 Srinagar – Jammu Tawi Vande Bharat Express currently operates '''6 days''' a week, covering a distance of {{Convert|269|km|mi|abbr=on}} in a travel time of 04 hrs 45 mins with average speed of 58 km/h. The Maximum Permissible Speed (MPS) will be confirmed after commercial run.
{{notelist}}

== See also ==
* [[Vande Bharat Express]]
* [[Gatiman Express]]
* [[Jammu–Baramulla line|Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link]]
* [[Srinagar railway station]]
* [[Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station]]
* [[Jammu Tawi railway station]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Vande Bharat Express}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Srinagar-Jammu Tawi Vande Bharat Express}}

[[Category:Vande Bharat Express trains]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of India]]
[[Category:Higher-speed rail]]
[[Category:Express trains in India]]
[[Category:Electric multiple units of India]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Transport in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Transport in Srinagar]]
[[Category:Transport in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Transport in Jammu]]

Srinagar–Jammu Tawi Vande Bharat Express - Revision history

MableHaight9 at 05:54, 3 May 2026