Gujarat’s devotees travelling to Mata Vaishno Devi will soon have a more convenient rail journey. Train No. 19223, the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express, will now run directly to Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) instead of terminating at Jammu Tawi.
The new service will come into effect from October 18, 2026. On the return journey, Train No. 19224, the Katra-Sabarmati BG Express, will operate from Katra to Sabarmati starting October 20.
No More 50-Km Road Journey From Jammu
Until now, passengers travelling to Vaishno Devi had to get down at Jammu Tawi and cover around 50 km by bus or taxi to reach Katra. The additional road journey could take two to three hours and involved extra expenses, particularly for elderly passengers and families travelling with children.With the train now reaching Katra directly, passengers will be able to save both travel time and the cost of hiring separate transport from Jammu.
Stops Across Five States
The train will pass through several important stations in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu and Kashmir, it will also have stoppages at Samba, Bari Brahmin and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur), besides Katra.
Easier Access to Vaishno Devi Base Camp
Katra railway station is located close to the main base area for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.
Passengers can access facilities such as travel registration counters, cloakrooms, prepaid autos and hotels around the station.The station also provides convenient access to routes and transport facilities leading towards Banganga, Tarakot Marg and Sanjichhat, making the onward journey to the shrine easier for devotees.