The much-awaited third Vande Bharat Express connecting Jammu and Srinagar is projected to start after Holi 2025 and will be operated by the Northern Railway. This semi-high-speed train will be the first of its kind. Current efforts are focused on managing festive season travel. The expected date is after March 14, 2025, which is the date of Holi.
The Ministry of Railways and Northern Railway are currently engaged in addressing the challenges posed by the increased number of passengers during the festive season. This includes monitoring measures to manage passenger inflow. The new Vande Bharat train will improve connectivity and travel time between the two major cities of Jammu and Srinagar.
At the beginning of this month, a railway official was quoted by a news portal, hinting that the Vande Bharat train service will be launched in March 2025. The official has also hinted that the final decision lies with the railway board. The operational route between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar extends the service beyond Jammu.
The exact ticket price from Katra to Srinagar can be Rs 1500 to 1600 for a chair car and Rs 2200 to 2500 for an executive chair car. These estimated fares would encompass a reservation charge of Rs 40 and a superfast charge of Rs 45. The train has one executive class coach and seven AC chair car coaches, the total passenger capacity is 530.
The Northern Railway zone will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of this new Vande Bharat Express train service. This train is made to enhance the railway system, The initiative underscores the commitment to improving connectivity and facilitating a smoother travel experience for passengers.