Katra – Srinagar Vande Bharat Express a hit: Ticket prices, service details, tourist info

The newly launched Katra – Srinagar Vande Bharat express has been enjoying a dream run, which considerably cuts travel time by around three hours from the earlier seven. The tickets for the week on the train are sold out, with 478 chair car seats and 52 executive seats. The train, specially equipped to function in extreme winter, operates four weekly services from Katra to Srinagar and back. The train is also touted as a ray of hope for Kashmir tourism, which suffered immensely after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. The train’s route is also a stunning showcase of the region’s beautiful mountains, valleys and the world’s tallest bridge, the Chenab Bridge. For non-Kashmiri tourists wishing to explore the region, the train ride shows many breathtaking views like the Pir Panjal range landscapes and tunnel-cut mountain passages.

Timings and ticket costs
The Katra (SVDK) – Srinagar (26401) Vande Bharat Express departs Katra at 8.10 am and reaches Srinagar by 11.08 am. The ticket in the chair car compartment costs ₹715 per head. The passengers could opt for a vegetarian meal along with the ticket. There is no service on Tuesdays. Meanwhile, the Katra (SVDK) – Srinagar (26403) starts at 2.55 pm and reaches Srinagar at 5.53 pm. The chair car ticket costs ₹660 per head, which will be ₹695 if tea and snacks are included. The ticket for the executive chair costs ₹1270. The train doesn’t run on Wednesday.

Srinagar – Katra (SVDK) 26404 departs Srinagar at 8 am and arrives Katra by 10.58 am. This train also doesn’t run on Wednesdays. Srinagar – Katra (SVDK) 26402 leaves Srinagar at 2 pm and reaches Katra by 4.58 pm; no service on Tuesdays. There are 15 trains, including two Vande Bharat Expresses, from Delhi to Katra. Travellers from Kerala can rely on the Mangala Express via Konkan and two other weekly trains to Delhi. Besides, Kerala Express and other weekly services are available via Palakkad.

Himasagar Express to Katra
Himasagar Express (16317) from Kanyakumari to Katra (SVDK) is a direct train that connects the Southern states to Kashmir. The train that departs Kanyakumari at 2.15 pm runs via Palakkad. Meanwhile, the Navyug Express of Palakkad division that ran services to Katra before the COVID-19 outbreak hasn’t been restored yet. This train from Mangaluru travelled to Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu via Shoranur. Hundreds of passengers to Jammu had relied on this train that covered around ten states on the way. The Dakshina Kannada Rail Users’ Committee has appealed to restore the Navyug Express, forgotten by Kerala. The demand is that the train should be operated via Hassan.