Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express to commence operations from Oct 5; Check ticket fare, timings

Indian Railways is all set to provide better travel facility to the devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi by launching the commercial operations of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express train during the ongoing Navratra festival, from October 5. On New Delhi-Katra route, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express train will be the fastest train to operate and it will bring down the travel time to just 8 hours from the current travel time of about 12 hours. Prior to introduction of the Vande Bharat Express train, Shri Shakti Express was the fastest train on this route. 

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has already started the ticket booking for this premium train at its e-ticketing website, www.irctc.co.in, from September 29 onwards. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah will flag off the Vande Bharat Express train from the New Delhi Railway station tomorrow, October 3, 2019. 

With AC chair car (CC) and Executive chair car coaches, the New Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express will have three halts between New Delhi Railway Station and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway station including Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana and Jammu Tawi. The train will complete the 655-km-long journey from New Delhi to Katra in eight hours. Notably, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express train is stated to be running on all the days of the week except Tuesdays. 

The ticket for AC chair car of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi to Katra is priced at Rs 1,630, while the ticket for Executive chair car will cost Rs 3,015. In the return journey, the AC chair car ticket from Katra to New Delhi is priced at at 1,570, while Rs 2,965 will be charged for the Executive chair car. 

According to the available schedule, the Vande Bharat Express (22439) train will leave from New Delhi at 6am, reach Ambala Cantt at 8:10 am, Ludhiana at 9:19 am, Jammu Tawi at 12:38 pm and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 2 pm. On its return journey on the same day, the train (22440) will leave Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 3 pm, reach Jammu Tawi station at 4:13 pm, Ludhiana at 7:32 pm, Ambala Cantt at 8:48 pm and in New Delhi Railway station at 11 pm. 

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Notably, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express train will have brief stoppage of merely 2 minutes during its three halts at Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana and Jammu Tawi.