The Ministry of Railways introduced a new Vande Bharat Express train connecting Amritsar in Punjab with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Operated and maintained by the Northern Railway (NR) zone, this semi-high-speed service will enhance passenger comfort, reduced travel time, and better regional connectivity.
PM Narendra Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express train between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station of Jammu Division and Amritsar via Jammu-Pathankot-Jalandhar on Sunday, August 10.
This addition further strengthens the Indian Railways’ Vande Bharat network, which currently operates 144 services nationwide.
Launched in 2019, the Vande Bharat Express represents a significant leap in passenger train travel in India. Known for speed, comfort, and safety, these trains are equipped with advanced features such as the Kavach automatic train protection system, rapid acceleration, automatic plug doors, CCTVs, and ergonomic reclining seats.
Passengers benefit from faster journey times, improved interiors, and modern onboard facilities, setting a new standard for rail travel in the country.
Travel time, frequency
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. It will run daily except Tuesdays.
The service will operate as train numbers 26405/26406. This will be the fifth Vande Bharat service for Jammu and Kashmir, joining:
22439/22440 New Delhi–Katra
22478/22477 Katra–New Delhi
26402/26402 Katra–Srinagar
26403/26404 Srinagar–Katra
Key stoppages
The train will halt at four intermediate stations, ensuring better regional connectivity while keeping the overall travel time low. The stoppages are Beas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot Cantt, Jammu Tawi.
Timetable and departure timings
Train number 26406 (Katra–Amritsar) will depart Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) at 06:40 hrs and arrive in Amritsar at 12:20 hrs.
For the return journey, the train will leave Amritsar at 16:25 hrs and reach Katra at 22:00 hrs.
Ticket pricing
The new service will consist of eight coaches, offering two types of seating arrangements. AC Chair Car fare is Rs 1,170, while Executive Chair Car fare is Rs 2,085.
The comfortable seating, combined with the high-speed nature of the train, makes it a strong option for both pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and tourists exploring the region.
According to officials, Amritsar–Katra Vande Bharat will benefit pilgrims travelling to the Vaishno Devi temple, as well as tourists exploring Punjab and Jammu.