Katra Srinagar Vande Bharat Express booking on IRCTC : Indian Railways has started booking of Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26401) running between Katra and Srinagar on the official website of IRCTC.
This train is a historic step to increase connectivity and promote tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the first semi-high speed train of the Kashmir Valley, which will cover the distance of 190 km from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar in just three hours.
Train Schedule and Stoppages
According to the report, Vande Bharat Express (26401) will depart from Katra Railway Station at 8:10 AM and reach Srinagar Railway Station at 11:20 AM. On the return journey, it will depart from Srinagar at 12:45 PM and reach Katra at 3:55 PM. The train will run six days a week (except Tuesday). The train’s only stoppage will be at Banihal Railway Station (BAHL), where it will arrive at 9:58 AM and after a 2-minute halt, it will depart for Srinagar. The route is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which includes the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge.
Rental and booking
According to IRCTC, there are two classes available in Vande Bharat Express. Chair Car (CC) and Executive Chair Car (EC). The fare for Chair Car is around ₹555 and the fare for Executive Class is around ₹1070. Thus, the fare for Chair Car will be just Rs 3 per km. However, the final fare may be ₹1500-1600 for Chair Car and ₹2200-2500 for Executive Class, which will be confirmed at the time of booking. Ticket booking can be done through IRCTC website or app. In the booking process, passengers will have to enter the passenger details by selecting the date and class of travel from Katra (SVDK) to Srinagar (SINA). Tickets can be booked up to 120 days in advance.
This Vande Bharat Express has been specially designed for the harsh winters of Kashmir. It has been fitted with silicon heating pads (1800 watts) and self-regulating heating cables to prevent freezing of water tanks and pipelines. The train has a capacity of 530 passengers, including one executive class and seven luxury chair car coaches. The train can run at a maximum speed of 160 kmph, which significantly reduces the travel time compared to road (8-10 hours).
