Punjab Newsline | Jammu
In view of the growing rush of passengers and devotees visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi during the festival season, the Jammu Railway Division has announced two additional pairs of reserved Festival Special trains between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
The new services, numbered 04085/04086 and 04485/04486, will operate in addition to the previously announced special trains numbered 04081/04082 and 04083/04084. The move aims to accommodate the increased passenger demand and ease congestion on regular trains.
According to the schedule released by the Jammu Railway Division, train number 04085 will depart from New Delhi at 2 pm on October 10 and arrive at Katra at 3 am the following day. Its return service, train number 04086, will leave Katra at 10 am on October 11 and reach New Delhi at 11.30 pm the same day.
Similarly, train number 04485 will depart from New Delhi at 2 pm on October 11 and arrive at Katra at 3 am on October 12. The return service, train number 04486, will leave Katra at 10 am on October 12 and reach New Delhi at 11.30 pm.
Both pairs of trains will cover the journey in approximately 13 hours and halt at nine stations en route: Sonipat, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Ambala Cantt, Jalandhar Cantt, Pathankot Cantt, Kathua, Jammu Tawi and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur).
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Senior DCM) of Jammu Division, Udit Singhal, said the additional trains would help passengers travelling to their hometowns during the festive season secure confirmed tickets more easily while reducing pressure on regular services.
He added that additional coaches were also being temporarily attached to regular trains in response to passenger demand.
Singhal said passenger convenience remained the Railways' top priority and that the situation was being closely monitored during the festival season. He expressed confidence that the newly introduced special trains, like the earlier services, would provide significant relief to passengers.
He added that additional coaches would be deployed on routes witnessing heavy passenger traffic, wherever required.
