Vande Bharat Express to Run via Gurdaspur, Batala; Revised Schedule Effective from June 16

June 13, 2026

Amritsar, June 13: The Railways has released the revised schedule for the Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express, introducing a significant route change that will benefit passengers from border districts of Punjab. The new timetable comes 83 days after the service was announced.

Under the revised arrangement, the Vande Bharat Express will now operate via Pathankot City, Gurdaspur, Chhina and Batala instead of Pathankot Cantt. The earlier route connected Amritsar with Katra through Beas, Jalandhar City, Pathankot Cantt and Jammu.

According to railway officials, Train No. 26405/26406 Amritsar–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express will commence service from Amritsar on June 16 and from Katra on June 17. The eight-coach semi-high-speed train will operate six days a week.

Saturday Fixed as Non-Operational Day

As per the revised schedule, the train will not run on Saturdays. Earlier, Tuesday had been designated as the weekly maintenance day.

Train No. 26406 will depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 6:40 am and reach Amritsar at 12:20 pm via Jammu Tawi, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Chhina and Batala Junction. On the return journey, Train No. 26405 will leave Amritsar at 4:25 pm and arrive at Katra at 10:00 pm through the same route.

Major Relief for Passengers in Border Districts

The revised route will provide direct Vande Bharat connectivity to passengers from Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Batala for the first time. Residents of these areas will no longer have to travel to Jammu or Pathankot Cantt to board the premium train service.

Railway officials believe the move will not only save travel time but also encourage business activities, tourism and religious travel in the region.

Direct Link Between Golden Temple and Vaishno Devi Shrine

The service is expected to be particularly beneficial for pilgrims visiting Sri Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. Devotees from across India and abroad will now have a direct and comfortable rail connection between Amritsar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra.

Connectivity Between Punjab and J&K to Get a Boost

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal, said the decision to extend Vande Bharat connectivity to Gurdaspur and Batala aims to provide passengers in border areas with modern, safe and faster rail services.

He said the move would strengthen transport links between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir while giving a fresh impetus to trade, education and religious tourism.

The railway administration has advised passengers to plan their journeys according to the revised timetable. For reservations and real-time train information, passengers can use Railway Helpline 139 or the IRCTC mobile application.