The Indian Railways will soon run the Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Amritsar via Gurdaspur and Batala, replacing the earlier route through Jalandhar.
The premium service will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 6:40 am and is scheduled to reach Amritsar by 11:40 am on the same day. On its return, the train will leave Amritsar at 4:40 pm and arrive at Katra at 9:45 pm, according to officials in the Jammu Division of Northern Railway.
The train will make stops at Jammu, Pathankot Cantt, Gurdaspur and Batala in both directions. Railway authorities said the route change is aimed at providing faster and more direct connectivity between Amritsar and Jammu, reducing the longer distance previously required via Jalandhar. The revised alignment will also extend Vande Bharat services to Batala and Gurdaspur, benefiting pilgrims and residents in border areas.
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Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal noted that the decision was also intended to enhance convenience for premium-class passengers and improve the overall travel experience.
Officials said the modification responds to high passenger demand and is expected to shorten travel time while offering modern, safe and world-class transport facilities. In a related change, trains will now stop at Pathankot Cantonment instead of Pathankot City.
Passengers have been advised to check updated schedules and stoppages on the official Indian Railways website, via the National Train Enquiry System (NTES), or by calling 139 before travelling.
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