Indian Railways announced 40 additional runs of the special train service between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station. The Jammu Division of Northern Railway confirmed that this decision aims to manage the high passenger demand during the upcoming summer months. This service will benefit pilgrims visiting the holy shrine and tourists planning trips to the Kashmir valley. The special train is designed to provide a convenient and affordable travel option for passengers on this busy route.
Schedule and timings of the special train service
Train number 04081 will depart from New Delhi at 11:45 PM and reach Katra at 12:00 noon the next day. This service will operate from April 15 to July 15, 2026. For the return journey, train number 04082 will leave Katra at 9:00 PM and arrive in New Delhi at 10:00 AM the following morning. The return service is scheduled from April 16 to July 16, 2026. Both trains will complete 40 trips each during this designated period to help clear the seasonal rush.
Major halts and train composition details
The special train consists of 21 coaches to accommodate a large number of travelers. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal stated that the service has maintained 100% occupancy in previous runs due to its popularity. The train is an affordable option for those boarding from intermediate stations as well. It will provide essential connectivity for various regions along the track. The train will stop at several key stations during its journey as mentioned below.
| Station Name | Halt Type |
|---|---|
| Panipat and Kurukshetra | Intermediate Halt |
| Ambala Cantt and Ludhiana | Major Junction |
| Jalandhar Cantt and Pathankot Cantt | Regional Stop |
| Jammu and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan | Key Stations |