In a landmark moment for Indian Railways and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Vande Bharat Express service between Katra and Srinagar, ushering in all-weather, high-speed rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley for the very first time.
The service, which commenced regular operations on June 7, is a significant milestone under the 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project. Widely regarded as an engineering marvel, the USBRL line traverses some of the most challenging Himalayan terrain and includes record-breaking structures such as the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River and the iconic Anji Khad cable-stayed bridge.
The Vande Bharat Express will operate six days a week, offering four trips daily between Katra and Srinagar, with Banihal as the only intermediate stop. The journey time has now been reduced to approximately three hours—less than half of the previous eight-hour road travel—providing passengers with a faster, safer, and more comfortable travel option.
The Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar offers two classes of travel, each with its own pricing:
Chair Car (CC): ₹715 per ticket
Executive Class (EC): ₹1,320 per ticket