NEW DELHI: Indicating the start of train operations between Jammu and Srinagar in the next couple of weeks, the railways has notified the timetable of one Vande Bharat and another two mail/express trains for the route. The single-trip Vande Bharat train on the route will take three hours and 10 minutes, while the other two mail/express trains will cover the route in three hours and 20 minutes.
It’s not yet clear whether train operation from Delhi to Srinagar will also start soon.
As per the timetable, the Vande Bharat will leave Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) at 8.10 am and reach Srinagar at 11.20 am. This train will start its return journey from Srinagar at 12.45 pm and arrive at SDVK at 3.55 pm. The other two trains will also make round trips daily.
Railways has tweaked one Vande Bharat train and five other fully AC trains to meet the requirement of climatic conditions to operate in the Valley, particularly during winter months. “The six trains, including a Vistadome, which are operating at present in the Valley will continue to run,” said a railway official.
Meanwhile, to strengthen rail operation in the region, the ministry has carved out a new Jammu rail division and PM Modi will lay the foundation on Monday.
In yet another development, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the newly manufactured sleeper version of Vande Bharat train undergoing speed test where it achieved a velocity of 180 kmph.
In a statement, the railways said the Vande Bharat sleeper train has achieved the peak speed in its multiple trials in the last three days. “The trials will continue till this month end before this world class travel for long distance is made available to rail commuters across the nation,” it added.