Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the much-awaited train service to Kashmir from the holy town of Katra—base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine—in the first week of June, with June 6 being the likely date for the historic flag-off.
According to official sources, final preparations are underway for launching the Katra-Baramulla train service, which will include the new specially designed Vande Bharat Express for the Valley. The train service, initially scheduled to begin on April 19, was delayed due to weather concerns and later postponed again following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent “Operation Sindoor” conducted by Indian Armed Forces from May 7–10 targeting terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and PoJK.
The rail track’s opening comes at a crucial time ahead of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, set to begin on July 3 and conclude on August 9. With forecasts of an early and heavy monsoon likely to impact the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway—especially in the landslide-prone Ramban-Banihal stretch—train services can provide a reliable alternative for pilgrims traveling to Srinagar. Officials noted that special trains could be arranged to manage the pilgrimage rush in case of highway disruptions.
Currently, only the Vande Bharat Express is scheduled to operate between Katra and Baramulla. Prime Minister Modi is expected to flag off the inaugural train from Katra to Baramulla and virtually inaugurate the return train from Baramulla to Katra. He will also address a public rally at the Katra Stadium and is likely to visit the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, as well as the first cable-stayed rail bridge in Reasi district.
Initially, the service will operate from Katra, but once the expansion of Jammu Railway Station is complete—including the addition of new platforms—the origin point will shift to Jammu, likely around August or September. At present, there will be no direct train service from Delhi or other parts of the country to Kashmir. Passengers will need to change trains at Katra, and eventually at Jammu.
Extensive trials, including of the Vande Bharat train, have been successfully conducted on the route. During “Operation Sindoor,” a train carrying Army personnel even reached Srinagar. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, a fresh security audit was carried out on the route, resulting in strengthened infrastructure and increased deployment of security forces.
The 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has been progressing in phases. The following sections have already been commissioned:
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Qazigund-Baramulla (118 km) in October 2009
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Banihal-Qazigund (18 km) in June 2013
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Udhampur-Katra (25 km) in July 2014
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Banihal-Sangaldan (48.1 km) in February 2023
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Sangaldan-Reasi (46 km) completed in June 2023
The final 17-kilometre Reasi-Katra section was completed about three months ago, enabling successful trials of the Vande Bharat train. A major milestone was reached on January 4, when an electric train conducted a trial run on the Katra-Banihal section, crossing iconic structures like the Chenab Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge.
The entire USBRL project, costing around ₹41,000 crore, is expected to transform connectivity and economic prospects for the Kashmir Valley. The new Vande Bharat train connecting Katra to Srinagar will be the third semi-high-speed train operating in Jammu & Kashmir.
