The countdown for the much-awaited Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat has begun. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Kashmir's first Vande Bharat Train i.e. Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on April 19, 2025. Notably, in the second phase, the Vande Bharat Train will run from New Delhi to Srinagar. For this, preparations are underway to launch the service by August or September this year. With this, the New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is expected to link more states to Kashmir including Haryana and Punjab. Below is all you need to know about New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Train
New Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express Train update
A report quoted a senior Northern Railway official who informed that a single ticket will be issued for the New Delhi–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express. However, passengers will undergo a security check and train change at Katra, which may take 2–3 hours. A special security lounge is being constructed outside the station for this purpose.
On reaching Katra, the passengers will be directed outside the station to the lounge, where they will undergo ID verification, baggage scanning, and security screening. For this, 3 to 6 scanners will be installed, and additional security forces will be deployed to ensure safety. After the completion of the security checks, passengers will re-enter Platform number 1, from where the Srinagar-bound Vande Bharat train will depart.
Due to the security checks and protocols, there will be a 3 to 4-hour gap in the train schedules. The same process will be followed for passengers traveling from Srinagar to New Delhi.
Why do passengers need to deboard at Katra Railway Station?
The answer is security and weather. The journey from the plains to Srinagar involves significant temperature changes. Therefore, a break will help avoid health risks to passengers. Another reason is security. Since Srinagar is a sensitive zone, thorough checks are mandatory. Even vehicles entering the city by road are extensively screened.
Facilities in Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Trains
The Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat train has been specially designed with anti-freezing features to withstand extreme temperatures. A snow-clearing engine will precede the train in snowy conditions, ensuring year-round connectivity on this crucial route.
The heating system installed in the train will prevent water tanks and bio-toilets from freezing. The driver's windshield and air brakes will work even in minus temperatures. This will ensure all-weather connectivity between the two areas. The railways have used vibration-resistant seismic equipment in this project, as the area falls in Zone-V in terms of earthquakes.