Vande Bharat Express will create history on its first-ever chair car service to Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the train this Saturday, traveling from Katra to Srinagar in a mere three hours, a reduction of 6–7 hours of road travel time, which is usually taken. The launch becomes a possibility after the completion of the long-awaited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which was initially planned in 1994-95. The new Sangaldan to Katra section, with the iconic Anji Khand and Chenab bridges, has now connected Kashmir to the rest of India by rail.
The eight-coach train, which consists of seven AC Chair Cars and one Executive Class coach, is specially designed to withstand the harsh Kashmiri winters. The features include heated windshields, silicon heating pads for water and bio-toilet tanks, heated pipelines, and even heaters in Indian toilets, to operate throughout the year even in sub-zero temperatures.
The train will run once a day and at Reasi, Sangaldan, Banihal, and Anantnag, but no late night services because of security reasons. The fares are likely to be ₹1,000–₹1,500 for Chair Car and ₹2,000–₹2,500 for Executive Class.
Katra, which is already well-linked to cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kanyakumari, will be a hub for passengers traveling to Kashmir. There will be increased security checks and extensive passenger screening at Katra station, considering the nature of the area. This Vande Bharat train service is a giant step towards linking Kashmir with the rest of the country.
