The Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi Express has been extended to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station, giving passengers from western Rajasthan a direct rail connection to the pilgrimage base without changing trains at Jammu Tawi.
Train no. 19223 began operating to Katra instead of Jammu Tawi from its departure from Sabarmati BG on Sunday. Its return service, train no. 19224, will also originate from Katra, creating a direct onward and return option for passengers travelling to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
The extension is particularly relevant for passengers from Pali Marwar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Abu Road and Hanumangarh, who frequently travel to the shrine. The route change is expected to make the journey easier for elderly devotees and families travelling with children and heavy luggage, as they will no longer need to transfer between trains at Jammu Tawi for the final part of the journey.
Amit Sudarshan, chief public relations officer of North Western Railway, said the extension would also improve access to the Jammu region through three additional stops: Samba, Bari Brahman and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan. These stations will provide new boarding and alighting points for passengers travelling between western Rajasthan and the Jammu area.
The change adds another rail option for pilgrims from Rajasthan, although passengers from Jaipur, Ajmer, Dausa and Alwar already have services connecting them with Jammu Tawi and Katra at scheduled stoppages. These include the Pooja Superfast Express, Shalimar Malani Express and Sabarmati–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express.
The direct service also simplifies a journey that can otherwise involve managing a train transfer at Jammu Tawi, particularly during pilgrimage travel when passengers may be carrying luggage or travelling in groups. The operational benefit comes from extending the existing service rather than requiring passengers to arrange a separate connection for the final leg.
A railway official said the Pooja Superfast Express and Shalimar Malani Express are also likely to be extended to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station in the near future. No further operational details or implementation dates for those possible extensions were provided in the report.
For now, the Sabarmati service is the latest direct rail option linking western Rajasthan with Katra. The extension strengthens the rail connection to the pilgrimage base while adding stops in the Jammu region for passengers whose journeys begin or end at Samba, Bari Brahman or Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan.
