Now Reading: Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express extended to Katra
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Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express extended to Katra
The Railway Board has approved extending the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express (train numbers 19223 and 19224) up to Katra, with a halt at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur station. The move is aimed…
The Story in Brief
The Railway Board has approved extending the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express (train numbers 19223 and 19224) up to Katra, with a halt at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur station. The move is aimed at easing travel for pilgrims to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and general passengers from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and other parts of western India.
Until now, passengers had to deboard at Jammu Tawi and take buses or other transport to Katra. The extended service will eliminate the need to change trains, reducing travel time and extra expenses. The railway administration has asked passengers to check the IRCTC website, mobile app or station enquiry counters for reservations and updates. The commencement date will be notified separately.
The Indian Opinion
The Railway Board's approval is rightly framed as a boost for Vaishno Devi pilgrims, but the narrative of seamless connectivity will be tested by punctuality and frequency. Critics may argue that one daily train does not solve peak-season congestion. A more evenhanded view: any direct link is better than changing trains, but the real measure is whether the promised time and cost savings hold up once the service starts. Watch for the actual run time and whether the halt at Udhampur adds delays rather than convenience.
Sources (2): greaterkashmir.com, greaterkashmir.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
