New Delhi, June 5(HS): The Northern Railway has announced the regular operation of the Vande Bharat Express train between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra starting June 7. Ticket bookings will begin immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the trains from Katra on Friday. The train services will run six days a week, enhancing connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the pilgrimage site, decreasing travel time to just three hours from the current six to seven hours by road. The Vande Bharat train is designed for efficient operation during harsh winters. This service aims to ease travel for passengers and stimulate tourism and economic growth in the region.

Train service details:

- Train 26404/26403 (Srinagar-Katra-Srinagar) operates six days a week, except Wednesdays.

- 26404 departs Srinagar at 08:00, reaches Katra by 10:58.

- 26403 leaves Katra at 14:55, arriving in Srinagar at 17:53.

- Train 26401/26402 (Katra-Srinagar-Katra) operates six days a week, except Tuesdays.

- 26401 departs Katra at 08:10, arriving in Srinagar at 11:08.

- 26402 leaves Srinagar at 14:00, reaching Katra at 16:58.

Features include air-conditioned coaches, automatic doors, mobile charging, and advanced safety measures.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar