Ahmedabad: In a major railway connectivity boost for passengers from Gujarat and western India, Western Railway has announced the extension of the Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi Express up to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
The extended service will provide direct rail connectivity between Sabarmati in Gujarat and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, making the journey more convenient for pilgrims and passengers travelling to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
According to Western Railway, the extension will come into effect from the journey commencing on October 18, 2026 for Train No. 19223, while the return service, Train No. 19224, will operate from Katra with the extended schedule from October 20, 2026.
Sabarmati–Katra Express: New Timings
Under the revised service, Train No. 19223 Sabarmati–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express will continue to operate daily. The train will depart from Sabarmati at 10:25 am and reach Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 6:55 pm the following day. In the return direction, Train No. 19224 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Sabarmati Express will depart from Katra at 4:50 am and reach Sabarmati at 2:05 pm the next day.
Additional Railway Stops
The extended service will also receive additional stoppages on the route.
According to the Western Railway announcement, the trains will have additional halts at Samba and Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan stations. Train No. 19223 will also receive an additional halt at Bari Brahman. The additional stops are expected to benefit passengers travelling between Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.
Major Benefit for Vaishno Devi Pilgrims
The extension is particularly significant for passengers travelling to Mata Vaishno Devi. At present, passengers travelling on the Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi route have to reach Jammu Tawi and then arrange onward transportation to Katra. With the extension, the train will travel directly to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station, providing a more convenient rail option for pilgrims.
The move is expected to benefit passengers from Gujarat as well as several districts of Rajasthan located along the train’s route.
Rajasthan Passengers to Get Direct Katra Connectivity
The Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi Express passes through several parts of Rajasthan, including areas around Sirohi, Pali, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner and Hanumangarh.
Stations along the route include Abu Road, Pindwara, Sumerpur, Falna, Marwar, Pali Marwar, Luni, Pipar Road, Gotan, Merta Road, Nagaur, Nokha, Deshnoke, Bikaner, Lalgarh, Lunkaransar, Suratgarh, Pilibanga, Hanumangarh and Sangaria. The extension therefore creates a direct rail option to Katra for passengers from a large part of western Rajasthan.
Changes to Other Train Timings
The extension of Train Nos. 19223/19224 will also result in changes to the timings of several other trains operating through Jammu Tawi.
Western Railway has announced revised timings for services including the Sabarmati–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express, Malwa Express and Swaraj Express services. For example, Train No. 19415 Sabarmati–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express will arrive at Jammu Tawi at 4:05 am, depart at 4:15 am and reach Katra at 6:25 am from October 25, 2026.
Timings of the Bandra Terminus, Gandhidham, Hapa and Jamnagar–Katra Swaraj Express services will also be revised on different dates in October.
Daily Service to Improve Pilgrimage Travel
The Sabarmati–Katra extension is expected to strengthen direct railway connectivity between Gujarat and the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage destination.
With the train continuing to operate daily, passengers will have an additional option for planning their pilgrimage without requiring a separate road journey from Jammu Tawi to Katra. The development is also expected to improve connectivity for passengers from western Rajasthan and other regions along the route.
Western Railway Train Extension from October 18
The new service will officially begin with the journey commencing on October 18, 2026, when Train No. 19223 will operate from Sabarmati to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.
The return service, Train No. 19224, will begin its extended Katra–Sabarmati operation from October 20, 2026. For passengers planning a trip to Vaishno Devi later this year, the extension is expected to provide a more convenient and direct travel option from Gujarat and western India.
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