Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express gets massive response! Around 45000 passengers took train service in just 10 days of run

Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express: The Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express received an overwhelming response, carrying close to 45,000 passengers (up to May 11) within just ten days of the start of the operations of the semi high-speed train, firmly establishing itself as the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Ministry of Railways, in a statement issued on Tuesday, informed the the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express services hosted 28,762 passengers (up to May 8) in the maiden week of its run itself.

The response comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link in June 2025, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw later flagging off the upgraded 20-coach Vande Bharat service between Jammu and Srinagar on April 30 this year.

Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express: Running time table

The two pairs of Vande Bharat services operating on the corridor are Train No. 26401 (Jammu Tawi to Srinagar) and its return service Train No. 26402 (Srinagar to Jammu Tawi), which run six days a week except Tuesdays, and Train No. 26403 (Jammu Tawi to Srinagar) and its return Train No. 26404 (Srinagar to Jammu Tawi), which operate on all days except Wednesdays.

Together, they ensure that the crucial Jammu-Kashmir corridor is served by 4 train services a day, at least five days a week. Each Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 train services also continuously serve the high-demand route, offering to-and-fro movement for locals, tourists, pilgrims, and traders alike.

Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express: Occupancy rate

Two pairs of Vande Bharat services now operate across the 266-km corridor, ensuring passengers at both ends have at least one, and on most days two, daily options.

On days when both pairs of the train ran, demand consistently pushed figures to near-capacity levels: 4,977 passengers on May 3; 4,955 on May 8; 5,284 on May 9, 5,657 on May 10 and 5,024 on May 11.

“A train that earlier ran full with 8 coaches is now drawing near-capacity loads even with 20 coaches, underlining how significantly “high” travel demand on this corridor had outpaced the available supply,” the Ministry stated.

On days when a single pair was operated, the ministry said it touched 95.03 per cent on May 5 and 94.79 per cent on May 6. Weekends have seen the sharpest surge in demand, with Saturday and Sunday alone accounting for nearly 11,000 passengers.

On Sunday (10 May) itself, the occupancy was a whopping 98.21 per cent, a figure that points squarely to the tourism potential this corridor is already beginning to unlock, according to the Railway Ministry.

Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express: From pilgrims to traders, a train for everyone

Pilgrims, students, government officials, and traders between Jammu and Srinagar travel without a break in journey for the first time. Tourists who once found the Valley logistically challenging now ride through the engineering marvels of the Chenab and Anji bridges from the comfort of a Vande Bharat seat, the Ministry stated.

Crucially, the train is engineered to operate in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, making it a dependable all-weather artery when snowfall and landslides render the National Highway impassable for days at a stretch, it added.

A journey that is easier on the pocket too

The Vande Bharat is also the most affordable option on the corridor. A Chair Car ticket, meals included, costs a fraction of what a budget airline charges for the same journey, while even the cheapest one-way flight comes in at a significantly higher price. A shared cab per seat costs more, and a private taxi several times more still, with no protection against highway disruptions. The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat does not merely connect two cities; it takes you through one of the most picturesque rail routes in the world, the ministry stated.

From the rugged terrain of Jammu, across the gravity-defying Chenab and Anji bridges, through tunnels carved into the Himalayan rock, and into the sunlit valleys of Kashmir, every kilometre of this journey is an experience in itself. Indian Railways has priced this extraordinary ride below its own cost of operations, a deliberate choice to ensure that a journey of this quality remains within every passenger's reach. Paradise on Earth is no longer a privilege; it is a train ticket away. Do not miss the chance to travel this very special route.

Timed Perfectly for Kashmir's Golden Season

With the summer tourist season picking up, destinations such as Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Dal Lake are expected to further boost ridership on the route, the ministry said.