📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Snehrashmi
Travel
New Gujarat‑Katra Rail Link Launches Tomorrow, Boosting J&K Connectivity
✍️ JK News Today
🗓 17 Oct 2026, 08:16 PM
👁 22
Indian Railways will start a direct service from Gujarat to Katra on October 18, a move hailed as a gift to Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Railways announced that a new train service linking Gujarat with Katra in Jammu & Kashmir will commence on October 18. The route, described as a “gift” to the northern state, aims to provide a direct rail connection between the western region and the gateway to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
The introduction of the service is expected to shorten travel time for passengers traveling for pilgrimage, tourism and business, offering an alternative to road journeys that often face congestion and weather challenges in the Himalayan terrain.
Officials said the train will operate under the existing railway network, utilizing the newly upgraded tracks that connect Gujarat’s major stations with the northern rail corridor leading to Katra. Further details on frequency and fare structure will be released by the railway ministry in the coming days.
The launch reflects the central government's focus on improving infrastructure in border states and enhancing economic integration across regions.
The introduction of the service is expected to shorten travel time for passengers traveling for pilgrimage, tourism and business, offering an alternative to road journeys that often face congestion and weather challenges in the Himalayan terrain.
Officials said the train will operate under the existing railway network, utilizing the newly upgraded tracks that connect Gujarat’s major stations with the northern rail corridor leading to Katra. Further details on frequency and fare structure will be released by the railway ministry in the coming days.
The launch reflects the central government's focus on improving infrastructure in border states and enhancing economic integration across regions.