Delhi to Srinagar Train 2026: Vande Bharat Timings, Fares and How to Connect

Is there a direct train from Delhi to Srinagar?

Not yet. As of September 2026 there is no single train from Delhi to Srinagar. You travel in two legs: first from Delhi to Jammu Tawi or Katra, then on the Vande Bharat Express from Jammu Tawi or Katra through the mountains to Srinagar. A direct overnight service from Delhi has been talked about, but it is not running yet, so check IRCTC for anything new before you plan.

Leg 1: Delhi to Jammu Tawi or Katra

The fastest train is the New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express (22439), which leaves New Delhi at 6:00 am and reaches Katra at about 2:20 pm, covering about 655 km. It runs six days a week, stopping at Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, Pathankot Cantt and Jammu Tawi. The return, 22440, leaves Katra at about 2:55 pm and reaches New Delhi at about 11:10 pm. Several other express trains, many of them overnight, also run from Delhi to Jammu Tawi and Katra.

Check which day each train does not run before you book. Sources disagree on the Delhi to Katra Vande Bharat's day off, and the two Jammu to Srinagar Vande Bharat pairs rest on different days, so confirm on IRCTC for your date.

Leg 2: the Vande Bharat from Jammu Tawi to Srinagar

Two Vande Bharat pairs now run the full route between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar, 269 km through the mountains, in about 4 hours 45 to 50 minutes. The service began between Katra and Srinagar in June 2025 and was extended to Jammu Tawi on 30 April 2026. Both trains stop at Katra, so you can board there too.

• Stops: the trains call at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal, with Reasi or Udhampur depending on the train.
• Classes: AC Chair Car and AC Executive Chair Car, with airline-style seats and on-board catering.
• Timings change: railway timetables are revised from time to time. Treat the table above as a guide and check IRCTC before you book.

Jammu to Srinagar train ticket price

Reported fares for the Vande Bharat between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar are about ₹715 to ₹880 in AC Chair Car and about ₹1,320 to ₹1,515 in AC Executive Chair Car, including catering and reservation charges. Fares vary with where you board, so boarding at Katra costs a little less than from Jammu Tawi.

For the full Delhi to Srinagar fare, add your Delhi to Jammu Tawi or Katra ticket to the Vande Bharat fare. Book both on IRCTC.

Katra to Srinagar by train

Both Jammu Tawi to Srinagar Vande Bharats stop at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, so Katra is an easy place to join if you have come for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage or taken the Delhi to Katra Vande Bharat. From Katra the train climbs through Reasi and Banihal into the Kashmir valley, crossing the most dramatic part of the line.

Planning the connection

The two legs do not always fit together on the same day, so plan the connection rather than hoping it works.

• Overnight in Jammu or Katra: the most relaxed option. Take a day or overnight train to Jammu Tawi or Katra, stay the night, and catch the 6:20 am Vande Bharat from Jammu Tawi to reach Srinagar before lunch.
• Same day: arriving at Jammu Tawi or Katra in the morning, you can take the afternoon Vande Bharat (1:20 pm from Jammu Tawi) and reach Srinagar at about 6:00 pm, on days it runs.
• Leave a margin: long-distance trains can run late. Do not book the Vande Bharat with only a few minutes to spare.
• Book both legs early: Vande Bharat seats go quickly in peak season, on holiday weekends and in the tulip and snow seasons.

The journey: Chenab Bridge, Anji Khad and the tunnels

The Jammu to Srinagar line is one of the great railway journeys in India, and a big reason to take the train instead of flying. Most of the route runs through tunnels and over viaducts across the Pir Panjal mountains.

• Chenab Bridge: the highest railway bridge in the world, with its deck 359 m above the river bed and a total length of 1,315 m. It crosses the Chenab gorge between Kauri and Bakkal in Reasi district, and opened to trains on 6 June 2025.
• Anji Khad Bridge: India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, 331 m above the river bed, between Katra and Reasi. Its 96 cables hang from a single 193 m pylon.
• Banihal and the tunnels: the line passes under the mountains near Banihal before emerging into the Kashmir valley, where the view opens up over fields and villages towards Srinagar.

For the best views of the bridges, choose a window seat, and remember that much of the route is in tunnels, so the views come in short, spectacular bursts.

Arriving at Srinagar railway station

Srinagar railway station (station code SINA) is at Nowgam, about 8 km from Lal Chowk, the city centre. From the station, take a taxi or use a cab app into the city; in our experience Rapido is the most reliable and fastest to book in Srinagar, and the local apps Aala and Novo also work. Remember that prepaid SIMs from other states stop working in Jammu and Kashmir, so sort out your phone before you need a cab.

Going straight to the snow? Our Srinagar to Gulmarg guide has the route, taxi and bus options and the winter chains rule.

Train, flight or road?

Flying is fastest: about 1.5 hours from Delhi. The train takes most of a day or an overnight plus a morning, but the Jammu to Srinagar section is a sight in itself, and it is a good choice if you are coming from Punjab or combining the trip with Vaishno Devi at Katra. The road, 247 km on the Jammu to Srinagar highway, is the least predictable, especially in winter.

All three options, with distances and seasonal road closures, are in our guide on how to reach Kashmir.

Planning the rest of the trip? See our Kashmir travel guide.