Indian Railways has announced a change in the schedule of the country’s second Vande Bharat Express, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express. Effective March 18, the train, numbered 22440, departing from New Delhi to Katra will now depart five minutes earlier than its previous schedule.
The Northern Railway issued a statement informing the public about the change, citing operational reasons for the adjustment in timing. According to the new schedule, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express will now depart from Katra at 2:55 pm instead of the previous departure time of 3:00 pm. The train is expected to reach Jammu Tawi at 4:08 pm instead of the earlier 4:13 pm. However, there are no changes in the timings of the train after it reaches Jammu Tawi, and it will arrive in Delhi at its scheduled time of 11:00 pm.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express operates between New Delhi and Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, serving passengers traveling to the famous Hindu religious site of Vaishno Devi. In the Northern Railway zone, this train plays a crucial role in facilitating travel for pilgrims.
During its journey, the Vande Bharat Express makes stops at four stations, including Ambala Cantt Junction, Ludhiana Junction, Pathankot Cantonment, and Jammu Tawi.
Operated six days a week, the Vande Bharat Express runs between Katra and New Delhi, excluding Wednesdays. Passengers traveling on this train have the option of choosing between AC chair car and executive chair car accommodations.