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Railway officials have stated that a direct train service linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India is expected to materialise soon. This development follows the earlier inauguration of the twin Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express trains on the recently completed Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link. In a new move this week, the train will halt for two minutes at Reasi railway station (after train numbers 26401/26402). The stop is experimental and aims to serve pilgrims heading to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and tourists visiting local bridges. Local demand led to the addition, with future service decisions dependent on viability.
The management of the northern division of Indian Railways has confirmed that, having completed the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link earlier this year, work is now under way to offer a train service that directly connects Kashmir with other parts of India. A senior official said the project is going ahead smoothly, with operational and security issues being addressed. Advertisement
This week, the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express (train 26401/26402) was given a two-minute stop at Reasi railway station on an experimental one-month basis. The train will depart from Katra at 8.10 am, arrive at Reasi at 8.28 am, and later on the return run call at Reasi at 4.34 pm. Prior to this, the only scheduled halt between Katra and Srinagar was at Banihal a key trans-shipment point.
The stoppage at Reasi is in response to persistent demands from residents and political representatives, the official noted. Reasi station sits in the district headquarters and was considered strategically important for connectivity. The continuation of this stop will depend on passenger feedback and commercial viability.
Local leaders have welcomed the change. They pointed out that the additional stop will benefit pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and tourists travelling to the iconic Chenab Bridge and surrounding destinations. They also hope that the rail ministry will approve a special train between Reasi and major infrastructure sites such as the Chenab Bridge and the Anji Khad cable-stayed bridge, which could further boost tourism and employment.
Operationally, the new connectivity push follows the inauguration of the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat service in June, which itself was a major milestone in linking the valley via rail. The official emphasised that once the required preparations are complete, direct train services to Kashmir from other parts of the country will be rolled out soon.
Source PTI
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