Passenger count crosses 44,000 in 10 days
Srinagar, May 12: The Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express services have carried 44,727 passengers within the first 10 days of regular operations, highlighting strong demand for rail connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Railways said on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, the four services together carried 44,727 passengers up to May 11 after regularisation of operations on May 2. In its maiden week alone, up to May 8, the services recorded 28,762 passengers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link on June 6, 2025, while Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the augmented 20-coach Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on April 30, 2026.
The ministry said two pairs of Vande Bharat trains are currently operating on the corridor. Train No. 26401 from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar and Train No. 26402 from Srinagar to Jammu Tawi run six days a week except Tuesdays, while Train No. 26403 and Train No. 26404 operate on all days except Wednesdays. Together, the services ensure four train operations daily on at least five days a week, while two services continue to run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Railway officials said demand remained close to full capacity on most days. Passenger figures touched 4,977 on May 3, 4,955 on May 8, 5,284 on May 9, 5,657 on May 10 and 5,024 on May 11. On days when only one pair of trains operated, occupancy reached 95.03 per cent on May 5 and 94.79 per cent on May 6. Weekend demand was particularly high, with Saturday and Sunday together accounting for nearly 11,000 passengers. Occupancy on May 10 touched 98.21 per cent.
The ministry said the services are being used by pilgrims, tourists, students, traders and government employees travelling between Jammu and Srinagar. It added that passengers are now able to travel between the two cities without interruption while also experiencing the Chenab and Anji railway bridges along the route.
Officials said the Vande Bharat trains have been engineered to operate in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, making them dependable even during snowfall and highway disruptions.
The Railways also said the service offers a cheaper alternative to air and road travel on the corridor. Chair car tickets, including meals, cost significantly less than airfares, while shared cabs and private taxis are comparatively more expensive and remain vulnerable to weather-related disruptions on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.
The ministry said the launch of the services coincides with the peak summer tourism season in Kashmir, when destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Dal Lake witness heavy tourist inflow. Passengers can now travel from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar in under five hours, which officials said is faster and more dependable than alternative modes of transport.
The Railways said passenger numbers are expected to rise further during the peak tourist season in the Valley.
