New Delhi: The highly anticipated launch of train services connecting Kashmir and New Delhi has taken an unexpected turn. Instead of a direct journey, all trains travelling to and from Srinagar will necessitate a change of trains at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Katra railway station in Jammu.
Railway officials, citing security concerns as the primary reason, have confirmed that Katra will serve as a mandatory transhipment point. “Trains either coming from Srinagar or returning to New Delhi will stop at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station in Katra, Jammu, where passengers will have to board another train to complete their journey,” ETV Bharat quoted railway officials as saying.
Trains arriving from Srinagar or departing for New Delhi will halt at Katra’s SMVD station, requiring passengers to deboard, re-check their luggage, and board a connecting train for their final destination. This process involves transferring between platforms, with platform number 1 designated for Kashmir-bound trains.
“When a train arrives at this platform, all passengers will have to deboard and exit the station. They will then need to re-scan their luggage at the departure lounge before boarding the train stationed at platform number 1 for their onward journey. The same train will not continue to further destinations, and passengers will have to wait for the next train to proceed,” officials added.
The Northern Railway released a timetable on December 31st, outlining the daily schedule for three trains – one Vande Bharat Express and two Mail Express trains, connecting SMVD Katra and Srinagar. However, this timetable conspicuously omitted details about the onward journey from Katra to other destinations, leaving passengers and the public in the dark about the necessary transhipment.
The timetable reveals specific timings. The Vande Bharat Express from Katra will depart at 8:10 AM and arrive in Srinagar at 11:20 AM, while the Mail Express trains leave at 9:50 AM and 3:00 PM respectively, arriving in Srinagar at 1:10 PM and 6:20 PM. The return journey follows a similar pattern, with the Srinagar trains arriving in Katra at various times throughout the day.
The official inauguration of the Kashmir rail link is expected on January 13th, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srinagar to inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel.
