Indian Railways has extended the Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi Express up to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, giving pilgrims from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab a direct daily train to Katra without changing at Jammu Tawi.

According to Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, train 19223 Sabarmati–Katra Express departs Sabarmati daily at 10:25 am and reaches Katra at 6:55 pm the following day, with the extended service from Sabarmati starting October 18, 2026. The return train 19224 departs Katra daily at 4:50 am and arrives at Sabarmati at 2:05 pm the next day, effective from October 20, 2026.

The trains get new halts at Samba, Bari Brahmana and Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur) stations, benefiting local residents, students, traders, industrial workers and military personnel, Northern Railway's Jammu Division said. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who had written to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw requesting the extension, announced it on October 18.

Sources: Western Railway press release (via The Live Ahmedabad), Northern Railway Jammu Division (via Jammu News Portal), Nation Press.