New Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat Details: Significance, Timings, Stoppages, Travel Time, Fare

Travel between Amritsar and Katra is about to get a serious upgrade. The Ministry of Railways has rolled out another Vande Bharat Express, this time connecting Punjab's holy city, Amritsar, with Jammu and Kashmir's pilgrimage hub, Katra. For passengers, that means quicker journeys, more comfort and a fresh travel experience on board one of India's most modern trains.

The new Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat Express will be managed and operated by the Northern Railway (NR) zone. It is not just another train - it is part of the Indian Railways' growing fleet of Vande Bharat services. 

How The New Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat Will Be Beneficial

The launch of this train is expected to benefit both pilgrims and tourists. For devotees travelling to Mata Vaishno Devi and the Golden Temple, it means a faster, more reliable way to reach Katra and Amritsar, respectively. For visitors exploring Punjab and Jammu, it offers a modern and convenient travel option. On top of that, better connectivity between the two states is a win for local economies and tourism.

Travel Time And Frequency

The new Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat will run under train numbers 26405/26406 and take 5 hours 35 minutes to cover the distance between the two cities. It is not a daily service; the train will operate six days a week and take a break every Tuesday.

Apart from the new Amritsar-Katra route, Jammu and Kashmir is already connected by several Vande Bharat services, including:

• New Delhi-Katra (22439/22440)
• Katra-New Delhi (22478/22477)
• Katra-Srinagar (26402/26402)
• Srinagar-Katra (26403/26404)

Stoppages Along The Way

The train will make four scheduled stops at Beas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot Cantt and Jammu Tawi. This makes it convenient for travellers across Punjab and Jammu, who can hop on from multiple locations.

Also Read: Vande Bharat Train Guide: CC vs EC, Ticket Price, Food, Routes And Sleeper Plans

Timings

The morning schedule looks neat for those starting their day early. Train number 26406 will leave from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) at 06:40 hrs and reach Amritsar at 12:20 hrs. For the return journey, the train will head out from Amritsar at 16:25 hrs, reaching Katra by 22:00 hrs. The timings are designed to give passengers the chance to make a round trip in a single day if needed.

Coaches And Fares

This train will feature a total of 8 coaches, with two types of seating - AC Chair Car and Executive Chair Car. Fares have been fixed at Rs 1170 for AC Chair Car and Rs 2085 for Executive Chair Car. The higher-priced Executive class promises more leg-room, premium comfort and a quieter travel environment.

About Vande Bharat Express

Currently, 144 Vande Bharat Express trains are already crisscrossing the country. Each one of these trains is packed with modern features aimed at making rail travel easier, safer and more reliable. Since their launch in 2019, these trains have been marketed as the next step in passenger travel, and they continue to expand into new routes.

So, what makes them special? For starters, Vande Bharat trains come with the Kavach safety system, automatic plug doors, CCTV cameras, and faster acceleration for smoother rides. Passengers also get to sit back in reclining ergonomic seats, which makes even long journeys more comfortable. All these upgrades make them stand out compared to regular express trains.

With the Amritsar-Katra Vande Bharat now joining the network, passengers have one more reason to choose the railways over buses or flights for regional travel.