Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Carries 45,000 Passengers in Just 10 Days

The Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express has emerged as a massive success story for Indian Railways, carrying nearly 45,000 passengers within just ten days of its regular operations. The newly augmented 20-coach train service has rapidly become the preferred mode of travel for tourists, pilgrims, traders, students and local residents travelling between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.

The historic rail link gained national attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the landmark 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project on June 6, 2025. Building upon that achievement, the upgraded Jammu Tawi–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express was flagged off on April 30, 2026. Since regular services began on May 2, the response from passengers has exceeded expectations.

According to railway data, the four daily Vande Bharat services operating on the route transported 44,727 passengers in both directions up to May 11. In its maiden week alone, the service carried 28,762 passengers, underlining the huge demand for fast, reliable and comfortable rail connectivity to Kashmir.

At present, two pairs of Vande Bharat trains operate on the corridor. Train numbers 26401 and 26402 run between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar six days a week except Tuesdays, while train numbers 26403 and 26404 operate on all days except Wednesdays. This arrangement ensures four train services daily on most days of the week, maintaining continuous connectivity on the high-demand corridor.

Passenger occupancy figures reveal the extraordinary popularity of the service. On May 3, the trains carried 4,977 passengers, followed by 4,955 passengers on May 8. Demand surged further during the weekend, with 5,284 passengers travelling on May 9, 5,657 passengers on May 10, and another 5,024 passengers on May 11. Railway officials noted that occupancy touched 98.21 percent on Sunday, highlighting the rapidly growing tourism traffic to Kashmir.

Even on days when only one pair of trains operated, occupancy remained above 94 percent, proving that the corridor has a massive unmet travel demand. Earlier, the route was served by an eight-coach train which regularly ran full. The upgraded 20-coach Vande Bharat continues to witness near-capacity occupancy, indicating the scale of passenger demand between Jammu and Srinagar.

The train is transforming travel patterns across Jammu and Kashmir. For the first time, pilgrims, tourists, government employees, traders and students can travel between Jammu and Srinagar without interruptions caused by road closures, landslides or weather disruptions. The service has become especially important during the summer tourist season, when thousands of visitors travel to Kashmir’s famous destinations including Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Srinagar.

Passengers are also enjoying one of the most scenic railway journeys in the country. The route passes through the engineering marvels of the Chenab Bridge and Anji Bridge, along with multiple Himalayan tunnels carved through difficult terrain. The journey offers breathtaking views of mountains, valleys and rivers while providing modern comfort inside the fully air-conditioned Vande Bharat coaches.

The Vande Bharat service is also emerging as the most economical option for travelling to Kashmir. Chair Car tickets, including meals, are significantly cheaper than airfares between Jammu and Srinagar. Even shared taxi services often cost more, while private cab fares remain beyond the reach of many middle-class travellers. In addition, the train offers dependable all-weather connectivity, especially during winter months when the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway frequently faces closures due to snowfall and landslides.

The specially designed Kashmir Vande Bharat trains are engineered to operate in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, making them highly suitable for the Valley’s harsh winter conditions. Railway officials believe this reliability will further increase passenger preference for rail travel in the coming months.

The timing of the service expansion has also played a key role in its success. With Kashmir entering its peak summer tourism season, travellers from across India are choosing the Vande Bharat for faster and more affordable access to the Valley. Tourists can now complete the Jammu–Srinagar journey in under five hours, a major improvement over long and uncertain road journeys.

Railway officials expect passenger numbers to rise further during the upcoming tourist season. The service is not only improving mobility but also strengthening economic activity by boosting tourism, trade and local employment in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jammu–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is now being seen as much more than a train service. It represents a major transformation in connectivity, bringing Kashmir closer to the rest of India while opening new opportunities for tourism and economic growth across the region.