Srinagar, May 12: The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express services have carried nearly 45,000 passengers within the first ten days of regular operations, reflecting strong demand for the newly introduced rail connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the four daily train services together transported 44,727 passengers between May 2 and May 11, while 28,762 passengers travelled during the maiden week itself up to May 8.
The enhanced 20-coach Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express service was flagged off by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on April 30, 2026. The service operates on the historic Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2025.
Railway officials said the corridor is witnessing near-capacity occupancy levels on several days, particularly during weekends and peak travel dates. Passenger numbers crossed 5,000 on multiple days, including May 9, May 10 and May 11.
The two pairs of Vande Bharat services currently operating on the route include Train Nos. 26401 and 26402 between Jammu and Srinagar, which run six days a week except Tuesdays, and Train Nos. 26403 and 26404, which operate daily except Wednesdays.
Officials said the services are benefiting pilgrims, tourists, students, traders and government employees by providing uninterrupted rail travel between Jammu and Srinagar for the first time.
The train route passes through several major engineering landmarks, including the Chenab Rail Bridge and the Anji Khad Bridge, besides a network of tunnels across the Himalayan region.
Railways officials said the trains have been designed to operate even in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, making them a reliable all-weather transport option when snowfall or landslides disrupt traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The Ministry said the Vande Bharat service is also emerging as a comparatively affordable travel option between Jammu and Srinagar when compared with airfares and road transport costs. Chair Car fares, including meals, are lower than average air ticket prices on the sector, while offering faster and more reliable connectivity than road travel during adverse weather.
Officials added that the timing of the service coincides with the peak summer tourism season in Kashmir, when destinations such as Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Dal Lake attract large numbers of visitors from across the country.
The Ministry of Railways said the growing ridership reflects increasing public confidence in the rail corridor and its potential to strengthen tourism, trade and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
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