As the New Year is expected to witness a heavy rush of pilgrims at the Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine, the Railway Department has introduced a special train service between Katra and New Delhi from December 27 to January 2 to facilitate smooth travel for devotees.
Although the number of pilgrims this year has remained lower than last year, footfall is expected to rise significantly on the eve of the New Year.
Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, said that the division operates special trains from time to time for the convenience of passengers. "This enables the Railways to provide better facilities and ensure smoother journeys during periods of heavy rush and effective crowd management," he said.
He added that, considering the expected surge during New Year celebrations, the Railways has decided to run a special reserved train No. 04081/04082 between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra from December 27, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
Sharing details, Train No. 04081 will depart from New Delhi at 11:45 pm on December 27 and arrive at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 12:00 noon the following day. En route, the train will halt at Panipat, Kurukshetra, Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana, Jalandhar Cantt, Pathankot Cantt, Jammu, and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur) stations.
The return service, Train No. 04082, will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 9:20 pm on December 28 and reach New Delhi at 10:00 am the next day. En route, it will stop at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur), Jammu, Pathankot Cantt, Jalandhar Cantt, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, Kurukshetra, and Panipat stations.
Referring to the operation of special trains in the Jammu Division, Singhal said, "This reserved special train has been introduced to cater to the increasing number of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir and to meet the travel needs of local residents during the holiday season."
"This will help passengers connect with their families and friends to celebrate the New Year and also assist in managing the rush during this period," he added.
The special train will operate with 16 coaches. Passengers can book tickets through the official Indian Railways website or mobile app, or through authorised agents. Passengers have been advised to check accurate train timings before commencing their journey.
Elaborate arrangements in place
Meanwhile, the police, security forces, and intelligence agencies have been put on high alert to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the local administration have also made comprehensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Currently, the daily pilgrim footfall has increased to between 20,000 and 26,000. The weather on Saturday remained mixed, with sunshine until noon followed by cloudy conditions.
Helicopter services operational
Despite fluctuating weather conditions, helicopter services from Katra remained operational throughout the day. The battery-operated car service on the Bhawan route and the ropeway-based car service between the Vaishno Devi Bhawan and Bhairav Valley were also fully functional.
Devotees were seen availing themselves of all available facilities during their pilgrimage. After arriving at the Katra base camp, pilgrims registered, obtained their RFID travel cards, and proceeded towards the Bhawan with enthusiasm and devotion.
