22 Trains Cancelled as Northern Railway Alters Jammu–Katra–Udhampur Routes Till April 2026

Train services on the Jammu–Katra–Udhampur lines are facing significant disruptions due to ongoing repair work. Northern Railway has announced that 22 trains will remain cancelled until March–April 2026. Additionally, 16 other trains will either start or end their journeys at different stations during this period.

The cancellations and route changes are a result of extensive repair efforts following the severe floods in August 2025. Key bridges, such as Bridge No. 17 between Kathua and Madhopur, are undergoing restoration. Engineering restrictions and speed limits have been imposed to ensure safety.

Long-term Cancellations

Among the cancelled services are major trains like the Garib Rath Express (Jammu–Kathgodam) and Duronto Express (Delhi Sarai Rohilla–Jammu). The Vande Bharat Express (New Delhi–SVDK) is also affected. These cancellations will last until early April 2026, contingent on restoration progress.

Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager in Jammu, confirmed these disruptions. An official circular from Northern Railway Headquarters supports this decision, based on a proposal from the Divisional Railway Manager, Jammu.

Partial Train Operations

Sixteen trains will continue to operate but only up to specified stations until full repairs are completed. This includes services like the Durg–MCTM Superfast Express, which will terminate at Jalandhar, and the Sabarmati–Jammu Express ending at Firozpur.

The Northern Railway plans to restore three pairs of daily trains by December 2025 as part of the seventh phase of recovery. These include the Barmer–Jammu Shalimar Malani Express and Shri Shakti Express (New Delhi–SVDK).

Progress in Restoration

Railway officials report that nearly 80% of train operations in the Jammu Division have been restored over six phases. Remaining cancellations mainly affect weekly or fortnightly services, which will resume once bridge reconstruction and track stabilization are complete.

Several critical structures are under repair, including Bridge No. 163 (Udhampur–Chak Rakwal) and Bridge No. 137 (Ghagwal–Hiranagar). These efforts aim to ensure passenger safety and infrastructure stability in the long term.

Northern Railway advises travellers to check train statuses through official Indian Railways and IRCTC portals before planning their journeys. This measure is crucial for ensuring passenger safety amidst ongoing infrastructure repairs.