Third Vande Bharat on Jammu-Srinagar route: Udhampur gets big Railway boost

The development was announced by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who said the Railway Ministry had agreed to include Udhampur as a stopover for the new Vande Bharat service connecting Jammu and Srinagar.

Sharing the details on X, Singh said, “In response to a popular public demand of the local population and an earnest request made by us, the Railway Ministry has agreed to include Udhampur as a stopover for the third and new #VandeBharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar.”

“This is yet again a reiteration of PM Sh @narendramodi's sensitive concern for the aspirations of the people of this region,” he added.

Singh also thanked Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for what he described as a “positive and prompt gesture”.

The new service is expected to further strengthen rail connectivity between Jammu, Udhampur and Srinagar, while providing passengers with faster and more comfortable inter-city travel.

The Vande Bharat Express represents a new phase in India's premium passenger rail services. Developed indigenously, the self-propelled semi-high-speed trainset marks a shift from conventional locomotive-hauled trains towards integrated rail systems designed for greater efficiency, safety and reliability.

The Vande Bharat programme emerged amid growing demand for reduced travel times and enhanced onboard comfort on inter-city routes, particularly across medium-distance corridors.

Earlier premium services such as the Rajdhani Express, introduced in 1969, and the Shatabdi Express, introduced in 1988, significantly upgraded passenger rail travel by offering high-quality overnight and daytime connectivity, respectively.

Vande Bharat trains build on that legacy while incorporating modern technology and design aimed at meeting present and future passenger mobility requirements, forming a key part of India's ongoing railway modernisation drive.