Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat: Reach Srinagar in Just 3 Hours; Travel Time Reduced by Half

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the first Vande Bharat train to Kashmir in April, according to media sources on March 31, 2025.

As per the railway authorities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vande Bharat train, which will travel from Jammu to Srinagar via Katra district, on April 19. Modi is expected to visit the Udhampur area of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reach Srinagar in Just 3 Hours

The Vande Bharat train from Katra to Srinagar will cut the travel time to just three hours. Railway officials mentioned that the current road journey takes around six to seven hours, making the train journey a much faster option for commuters.

The Vande Bharat Express will reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar to just 3 hours, instead of the current 6-7 hours by road. Right now, trains run between Srinagar and Sangaldan. Once the railway line from Sangaldan to Katra is ready, these trains will be extended to Katra, said Northern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay.

Srinagar Vande Bharat Special Features

Vande Bharat Express Katra-Srinagar Timings

The Vande Bharat Express train is scheduled to depart Katra at 8.10 am and arrive in Srinagar at 11.20 am. The train is scheduled to depart Srinagar at 8.55 am and arrive in Katra at 12.05 pm, according to railway authorities.

Vande Bharat to Cross Chenab Bridge: World's Tallest Rail Arch Bridge

"The Sangaldan to Katra portion will now be operational, following the 25 km Udhampur-Katra section in 2014, the 18 km Banihal-Qazigund part in 2013, and the Banihal to Sangaldan section in 2023. This project includes Chenab Bridge, the tallest rail arch bridge in the world. Rail travel will be more pleasurable thanks to the tunnels, bridges, and valleys," as informed by railway officials.

Vande Bharat: India’s First Semi-High Speeed Train

The Vande Bharat Express, India's first domestic semi-high-speed train, was introduced by Indian Railways and is considered a "Make in India" success story.

The first Vande Bharat Express train started its journey on February 15, 2019. It ran on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour.