Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Western Railway Extends Sabarmati Express to Katra from October
Western Railway is changing where one train travels.
The Sabarmati train will go all the way to Katra, a destination for people visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
The new journey from Sabarmati will begin on October 18, 2026.
The return journey from Katra will begin on October 20, 2026.
Both services will run every day.
The trains will stop at some additional stations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Six other trains will also receive new arrival and departure times.
Reservations for several affected trains will reopen on August 21, 2026.
The Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi–Sabarmati Express will be extended to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra from October 18, 2026.
Train 19223 will leave Sabarmati at 10:25 a.m. daily and reach Katra at 6:55 p.m. the following day.
The return Train 19224 will depart Katra at 4:50 a.m. daily and arrive in Sabarmati at 2:05 p.m. the next day from October 20.
The extended trains will add stops at Samba and Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan, with Train 19223 also stopping at Bari Brahman.
Western Railway will revise timings for six other trains, with bookings reopening on August 21, 2026, for eligible journeys.
- Who
- Western Railway, led in the announcement by Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, and passengers using the affected trains.
- What
- The Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi–Sabarmati Express will be extended to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, while six other trains will receive revised timings.
- When
- The outward extension starts October 18, 2026, and the return extension starts October 20, 2026; bookings reopen August 21, 2026.
- Where
- The services connect Sabarmati with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, with additional stops including Samba, Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan and Bari Brahman.
- Why
- To provide another direct rail connection from Gujarat to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and accommodate related operational changes.
- Outward train
- Train 19223 will depart Sabarmati at 10:25 a.m. daily and reach Katra at 6:55 p.m. the next day.
- Return train
- Train 19224 will depart Katra at 4:50 a.m. daily and arrive at Sabarmati at 2:05 p.m. the next day.
- Extension dates
- The outward service begins with journeys on October 18, 2026; the return service begins October 20, 2026.
- Additional stops
- The extended services will stop at Samba and Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan; Train 19223 will also stop at Bari Brahman.
- Other train change
- Train 19415 will reach Jammu Tawi at 4:05 a.m., leave at 4:15 a.m., and reach Katra at 6:25 a.m. from October 25, 2026.
- Swaraj Express timings
- Trains 12471, 12473, 12475 and 12477 will arrive at Jammu Tawi at 2:32 p.m. and depart at 2:37 p.m., with changes taking effect between October 18 and October 24.
- Booking date
- Bookings for specified affected trains will reopen on August 21, 2026, for journeys beginning October 7, subject to the applicable 60-day Advance Reservation Period.