Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Witnesses Overwhelming Response, Carries 45,000 Passengers In 10 Days

The Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express has carried close to 45,000 passengers within 10 days of regular operations, the Ministry of Railways said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, the four daily services on the route transported 44,727 passengers till May 11, with 28,762 passengers travelling during the very first week of operations 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.

According to the Ministry, the occupancy remained close to capacity on several days, especially during weekends. Passenger numbers crossed the 5,000 mark on May 9, 10 and 11, while occupancy touched 98.21% on Sunday.

Two pairs of Vande Bharat trains currently operate on the corridor, providing daily connectivity for tourists, pilgrims, traders and locals. The trains are capable of operating in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, offering an all-weather alternative when landslides and snowfall disrupt road traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the Ministry said.

Further, the Ministry said the service offers a cheaper alternative to air travel, cutting travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to under five hours while passing through landmarks such as the Chenab and Anji bridges, Himalayan tunnels and the Kashmir valley.

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.