Indian Railways approves third Vande Bharat service for Jammu-Srinagar route

Indian Railways has approved a third Vande Bharat Express service operating between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar via Udhampur. The decision, communicated by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, aims to address high passenger demand on the 269-kilometre route, where existing services have consistently operated at full occupancy.

The new service, designated as Train Nos. 26407/26408, will include a stoppage at Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur. This addition follows previous efforts to increase capacity, such as expanding the coach strength of the two existing services from 16 to 20 coaches.

The existing Vande Bharat services on this corridor cover the distance in approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes, with stops at Udhampur, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Reasi, and Banihal. The new train is expected to provide travelers with greater flexibility regarding departure times and improved ticket availability.