Srinagar-Katra Special Unreserved Trains for Festive Rush
Northern Railway introduces special unreserved trains between Srinagar and Katra to handle the Diwali and Chhath Puja passenger surge.
To manage the heavy influx of passengers during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals, the Northern Railway's Jammu Division has rolled out special unreserved train services between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
These special services are designed to provide much-needed relief to commuters and devotees traveling through the region during this high-demand period. On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the services saw significant usage, with more than 500 passengers traveling in both directions.
Details of the Special Train Services
The railway is utilizing a DMU rake for these operations, which consists of two Driving Power Car (DPC) coaches and six Trailer Car (TC) coaches. The special services are scheduled to operate on November 5 and 6, 2026.
Train Schedule: Srinagar to Katra
Train No. 04690 will facilitate travel from Srinagar towards Katra with the following schedule:
- Departure from Srinagar: 11:45 AM
- Anantnag Stop: 12:57 PM
- Banihal Stop: 1:32 PM
- Arrival at Katra: 3:30 PM
Train Schedule: Katra to Srinagar
Train No. 04689 will handle the return journey from Katra back to Srinagar:
- Departure from Katra: 4:00 PM
- Banihal Stop: 6:25 PM
- Anantnag Stop: 7:00 PM
- Arrival at Srinagar: 7:45 PM
Official Response to Passenger Demand
Uchit Singhal, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager for the Jammu Division, explained that the decision to introduce these trains followed a thorough assessment of the sudden surge in passenger demand. He emphasized that this initiative is part of the railway's ongoing commitment to ensuring safe and comfortable travel for all passengers and devotees during the festive season.
The decision aims to provide relief to commuters facing difficulties due to high demand.
Railway authorities have reminded all travelers that these services are fully unreserved. It is mandatory for all passengers to purchase a valid ticket before boarding the train.
For real-time updates or further information, passengers are encouraged to use the following resources:
- Contact the Railway Helpline at 139
- Use the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app
- Visit the official Indian Railways website