Ashwini Vaishnaw to flag off Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat today

April 30, 2026 11:20 AM

Ashwini Vaishnaw to flag off Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat today

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will flag off a direct 20-coach Vande Bharat train service between Jammu and Srinagar on Thursday, while regular services for the public will commence from May 2. In addition to giving a fillip to tourism, the service will reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar while providing all-weather connectivity between the two capitals of Jammu and Kashmir. The historic rail link between Katra town in Reasi district of Jammu division and Srinagar in the Kashmir V...

Vande Bharat trains see 34% surge in ridership, nearly 4 crore passengers travel in FY 2025-26

April 10, 2026 10:41 PM

Vande Bharat trains see 34% surge in ridership, nearly 4 crore passengers travel in FY 2025-26

India’s flagship semi-high-speed train network, the Vande Bharat Express, has witnessed a sharp rise in passenger demand, with nearly 3.98 crore passengers travelling during the financial year 2025–26, marking a robust 34% increase over the previous year, according to the Ministry of Railways. The surge underscores a growing preference among passengers for faster, more comfortable, and modern rail travel. Since its launch in 2019, the Vande Bharat network has served over 9.1 crore passenger...

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train sees massive demand, tickets sell out within hours

January 20, 2026 10:10 PM

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train sees massive demand, tickets sell out within hours

The newly introduced Vande Bharat Sleeper train operating between Kamakhya and Howrah has witnessed an overwhelming response from passengers, with all tickets for its first commercial run selling out within hours of the reservation window opening. According to the Railways Ministry, the ticket booking for the service opened on January 19, at 8 am, and seats across all classes were fully booked in less than 24 hours through the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) and other authorised platforms. T...

Ashwini Vaishnaw inspects India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train at New Delhi Railway Station

January 4, 2026 3:53 PM

Ashwini Vaishnaw inspects India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train at New Delhi Railway Station

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday inspected India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train at New Delhi Railway Station, marking a key step towards the launch of the country’s first semi-high-speed overnight Vande Bharat service. During the inspection, the Minister reviewed sleeper coaches, seating and berthing arrangements, modern interiors, safety systems and passenger convenience features. Emphasising passenger safety and comfort, he examined advanced facilities includin...

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train completes CRS high-speed trial at 180 kmph

December 31, 2025 4:31 PM

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train completes CRS high-speed trial at 180 kmph

Indian Railways has successfully completed the final high-speed trial of the indigenously developed Vande Bharat Sleeper Train under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). The trial was conducted on the Kota-Nagda section, where the 16-coach train achieved a maximum speed of 180 kmph, marking a significant step in India’s push for advanced and self-reliant rail technology. During the trial, the CRS carried out detailed technical assessments covering ride stability, oscil...

Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar begins today; slashes travel time to just three hours

June 7, 2025 10:28 AM

Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar begins today; slashes travel time to just three hours

In a major boost to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, regular services of the Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra commence on Saturday. The Northern Railway has confirmed that the semi-high-speed trains will operate six days a week, significantly reducing travel time between the Kashmir Valley and the prominent pilgrimage hub in Katra. This development marks a transformative step in the region’s transport infrastructure. The new Vande Bharat service will ...

Central govt staff allowed to use LTC for travel on Tejas, Vande Bharat, Humsafar

January 16, 2025 12:45 PM

Central govt staff allowed to use LTC for travel on Tejas, Vande Bharat, Humsafar

The Central government has issued an order allowing its employees to travel on Tejas, Vande Bharat, and Humsafar express trains under the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) scheme in a move aimed at providing more convenient and faster travel options for them to visit their hometown or go for holidays to tourist destinations during leave. According to the new order issued this week, employees can now use these premium trains in addition to the Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto trains, based on their t...

PM Modi set to visit Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Odisha

September 16, 2024 3:23 PM

PM Modi set to visit Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on an extensive three-day tour across Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Odisha from September 15-17, 2024, focusing on infrastructure development, renewable energy, and housing initiatives. The tour kicks off on September 15 in Jharkhand, where PM Modi will flag off the Tatanagar-Patna Vande Bharat train at Tatanagar Junction Railway Station. He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for railway projects worth over Rs. 660 crores, including the Mad...