The Sabarmati-Katra Express will provide direct rail connectivity from Gujarat to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra from 18 October, removing the need for passengers to change transport at Jammu Tawi before travelling to the pilgrimage destination.
Western Railway has extended the existing Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express up to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. The move will benefit passengers from Ahmedabad and other cities in Gujarat who travel to the shrine, according to details reported by Gujarat Samachar.
Train number 19223 will begin its extended service from Sabarmati on 18 October. It will depart at 10:25 am and reach Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 6:55 pm the following day. In the return direction, train number 19224 will begin operating from Katra on 20 October.
The return service will leave Katra at 4:50 am and reach Sabarmati at 2:05 pm the next day. The announced timings establish a direct rail connection between the two terminals without requiring passengers to complete the final leg from Jammu Tawi by another mode of transport.
Until now, passengers travelling from Gujarat to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi generally had to continue from Jammu Tawi to Katra using additional transport after completing the train journey. Extending the service to Katra is expected to make the trip more convenient by bringing the rail journey directly to the destination used by visitors to the shrine.
The change also addresses a practical transfer issue in long-distance travel. Passengers arriving at Jammu Tawi had to arrange another vehicle for the onward journey, involving additional time and cost. With the extended service, that transfer will no longer be required for travellers whose journey is covered by the Sabarmati-Katra service.
The route is significant for Ahmedabad because Sabarmati serves as the originating station for the service. It also creates a direct rail option for passengers from other parts of Gujarat who use the Sabarmati connection to travel north. The available announcement does not provide details of the revised timetable at intermediate stations, fares, coach composition or reservation availability.
The service extension comes into effect in two stages. The northbound train will start its Katra operation on 18 October, followed by the southbound service from Katra on 20 October. These dates mark the beginning of the revised terminal arrangement announced by Western Railway.
For passengers, the main operational change is the replacement of Jammu Tawi as the final rail destination with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Further service details, including intermediate stops and booking information, will need to be confirmed through railway channels before travel.
