Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually flagged off the much-awaited Katra-Amritsar Vande Bharat Express from Bengaluru, Karnataka, along with two other train services. He said these trains would “benefit lakhs of devotees and boost tourism.”
The new service, connecting the holy cities of Katra and Amritsar, will cover the 370 km distance in just 5 hours and 40 minutes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also flagged off two more Vande Bharat Express trains from KSR Railway Station, Bengaluru — one from Bengaluru to Belagavi and another from Nagpur (Ajni) to Pune.
While inaugurating them, the PM said these high-speed trains would greatly improve regional connectivity, cut travel time, and provide passengers with a world-class travel experience. He added that the services would benefit lakhs of devotees and boost tourism.
PM Modi congratulated the people of Bengaluru, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, and the entire nation on these new projects and trains.
This marks the fifth Vande Bharat train to operate in J&K, all currently originating from Katra. Two trains already run between New Delhi and Katra, while two more were launched in June this year between Katra and Srinagar. Once the expansion of Jammu Railway Station is completed, these will operate from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa.
The newly launched Vande Bharat will connect Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station (Jammu Division, Northern Railway) and Amritsar Railway Station (Ferozepur Division) via Jammu–Pathankot–Jalandhar–Vyas. It will run six days a week, except Tuesday.
According to Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Jammu Railway Division, Train No. 26406 will run from Katra to Amritsar, while Train No. 26405 will operate in the reverse direction. Train No. 26407 (Katra–Amritsar) will depart Katra at 6:40 am and reach Amritsar at 12:20 pm, halting at Jammu, Pathankot Cantonment, Jalandhar City, and Vyas. Train No. 26405 (Amritsar–Katra) will depart Amritsar at 4:25 pm and arrive in Katra at 10:00 pm, stopping at Vyas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot Cantt, and Jammu.
Singhal noted that the service will particularly benefit pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, allowing them to travel and return more quickly.
In Bengaluru, the PM also inaugurated the Yellow Line of the Bangalore Metro (worth ₹7,160 crore) and laid the foundation stone for Phase-3 of the project (worth over ₹15,610 crore).
The Katra–Amritsar Vande Bharat Express, along with the two other newly launched trains, features modern amenities such as air-conditioning with automatic temperature control, ergonomically designed seats, individual infotainment screens, LED and ambient lighting, automatic sliding doors, and large panoramic windows.
Eco-conscious bio-vacuum toilets, the advanced Kavach collision-avoidance system, comprehensive fire detection and suppression technology, CCTV surveillance throughout the train, and an intercom system in each coach for emergencies further enhance safety.
Additionally, the trains come equipped with a regenerative braking system that saves up to 30% energy and a dual suspension system to ensure a smooth ride even at high speeds. (Agencies)
