Srinagar, April 30: In a first since Independence, the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir—Jammu and Srinagar—were directly connected by a train service on Thursday, a milestone achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Vande Bharat Express, flagged off by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, created history by linking the two capitals for the first time since J&K’s accession to India 79 years ago.
Originally inaugurated by PM Modi on June 6, 2025, the service had remained confined to the Katra-Srinagar corridor for nearly eight months. Thursday’s launch marked the first time the full 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL)—a ₹44,000-crore project completed over 25 years—became operational between the two capitals.
Officials said that for the first time, an everyday, all-weather passenger service now connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country, overcoming disruptions that have historically affected both the Jammu-Srinagar highway and the air link due to inclement weather.
“This is the first time history has been created by connecting the two capitals under PM Modi’s leadership,” a senior official said, emphasising that the train service provides Kashmir’s first assured physical integration with the national railway network.
Regular services will begin from May 2. The first pair (Train No. 26401/26402) will operate six days a week except Tuesdays, covering the distance in four hours and 50 minutes. A second pair (Train No. 26403/26404) will run six days a week except Wednesdays.
Officials said the new Jammu-Srinagar train has been upgraded to 20 coaches—a first for the route—compared to the existing eight-coach Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat, in view of huge passenger rush.
Preparations are underway to extend the service from Budgam to Jammu and ultimately from Baramulla to New Delhi, officials added. The travel time between Jammu and Srinagar is also expected to be reduced from four hours 50 minutes to four hours—another first for the valley’s rail connectivity under the Modi government, they said.
‘Gift from Modi ji’
Passengers on the inaugural run hailed the launch as a “gift from Modi ji” while urging people to keep the coaches clean.
“We are very thankful to Modi ji, who gave us a train. Earlier, they used to drop us in the middle of the road,” said Sanjana, a female passenger.
Describing the service as a “very big achievement,” another passenger said, “Today, for the first time, our train is going from Jammu to Kashmir. If there are landslides or an emergency, we could not reach on time earlier. Now our time will be covered in 3-4 hours.”
A passenger who identified himself as a sportsperson said the train was “better than an aeroplane” but expressed concern over its upkeep. “We join our hands and request—like they have given us this train as a gift, but if we will not keep it clean, then there is no point. Whoever has government property should take care of it, like we take care of our homes.”
‘No government had the will for 42 years’
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said no government in the last 42 years had the will to connect Srinagar by train and asserted that the new Vande Bharat Express service marked a “paradigm shift” in Indian Railways under PM Modi.
Speaking to media after flagging off the train, Dr Singh said people had stopped expecting a rail link to the Valley for over four decades. “You won’t believe it, but for 42 years, there was no demand either. People had simply stopped expecting.”
Recalling his visit to Katra 40 years ago, the Union Minister said the transformation in J&K’s infrastructure began only after Modi assumed office. “He said he would develop Jammu and Kashmir to the level of Maha Brahmand. Today, that promise is becoming visible on the ground.”
Describing the Vande Bharat service as a “first-of-its-kind in the world” and a “symbol of revolutionary change,” the Minister said the same model would be extended to the mountainous terrains of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Dr Singh also said the railway ministry had accepted a demand from local MPs for a stoppage at Udhampur. “They immediately issued an order. Now we will stop in Udhampur as well.”
‘New stream of development since Article 370 abrogation’
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a “new stream of development” has been flowing in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370, as he flagged off the 20-coach Vande Bharat train following massive public demand.
Vaishnaw recalled that PM Modi had inaugurated the Jammu-Srinagar rail link a year ago with an eight-coach train from Katra. “That train is now running at 100 per cent capacity, and demand is very high. Here, demand is so high that we directly moved to 20 coaches.”
The minister informed that over 5.5 lakh passengers have travelled on the eight-coach Vande Bharat services so far. The train departing from Jammu serves Dogri food, while the one from Srinagar offers Kashmiri cuisine, he added.
Highlighting economic dividends, Vaishnaw said the railway line has revolutionised cargo movement. “Most notably, over two crore kilogrammes of apples have been transported from the Srinagar valley to the rest of the country by train, besides cherries and dry fruits.”
On future expansion, the minister said the government is prioritising extension of the line from Baramulla to Uri. A project to connect Poonch and Rajouri is in the detailed project report stage.
On security, he said high-tech sensors, CCTV cameras and a control room have been set up in coordination with J&K Police and the Union Home Ministry. Despite last winter’s heavy snowfall of up to two feet on tracks, services never halted. The specially designed high-altitude Vande Bharat train, equipped with over 3,000 chips rated for minus 10 degrees Celsius and anti-freeze wiring and plumbing, was successfully tested during the harsh winter, he added.
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