Vande Bharat Express Jammu-Srinagar Extension Delayed: March 1 Launch Put on Hold
The planned extension of the Vande Bharat Express to run directly between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar has been postponed just days before its scheduled start, with Indian Railways indicating that a revised commencement date will be announced in due course.
According to The Times of India, the 20-coach premium semi-high-speed train was set to begin operations on the Jammu-Srinagar route from March 1. The service, which has been successfully linking Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra with Srinagar for over eight months using an eight-coach rake, carries approximately 1,400 passengers daily.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Katra-Srinagar segment on June 6 last year, following the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project. This landmark development provided the Kashmir Valley with its first all-weather rail connectivity. The train has seen strong ridership, transporting nearly 3.75 lakh passengers in its initial six months.
The proposed extension would have upgraded the train to a 20-coach formation, enabling seamless, faster travel between Jammu and Srinagar without the current changeover at Katra, while also boosting overall capacity.
The Jammu railway division has meanwhile made substantial strides in enhancing freight and logistics operations over the past year, highlighting continued infrastructure progress in the region.
ALSO READ : 186 Special Trains Announced for Holi 2026 By Central Railway
The Times of India report did not specify reasons for the delay. Other sources, including statements from Northern Railway officials cited, attributed the postponement to “unavoidable circumstances,” with the Railway Board suspending the extension notification until further notice. A senior divisional official confirmed the hold and assured that details on the new timeline would follow shortly.
The existing Katra-Srinagar service continues uninterrupted, but passengers anticipating improved direct connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir’s twin capitals must now wait for official confirmation of the rescheduled launch.