Srinagar, 22 June – The recently launched Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar has received an impressive response from passengers. Both pairs of trains introduced on June 7 are fully booked until 25 July, with daily demand for reservations steadily increasing.
According to the IRCTC reservation portal, the trains have long waiting lists or show “No Room” status for travel before 25 July. Seats are available beyond that date, but bookings are continuing at a brisk pace.
The train has opened up a new mode of transportation in the Kashmir Valley, offering a much-needed travel option for tourists and traders. With fares significantly lower than those of air travel, a large number of passengers are now opting for this rail alternative.
This shift has impacted air travel notably. Prior to the April 21 Pahalgam attack, there were 104 flights from Srinagar, with 19,641 passengers. Since the commencement of the train service on April 22, the number of flights has dropped to between 48 and 52 per day.
On 19 June, Srinagar Airport recorded 4,293 arrivals and 3,724 departures. Airline occupancy has dipped, with up to 15% of seats remaining vacant. An airline official acknowledged that the new train service has led to a noticeable drop in both flight numbers and passenger volume. As a result, some airlines have slashed their daily flights by 50%. Earlier, the fare for Delhi-Srinagar flights ranged between ₹12,000 to ₹15,000, which has now come down to ₹6,000–₹8,000 post the launch of Vande Bharat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat train on 6 June. Tickets for the Katra-Srinagar service are available on the Indian Railways website. The train offers two classes: Chair Car at ₹715 and Executive Class at ₹1,320. Operating six days a week, the service currently halts only at Banihal, with decisions on additional stops expected later.
