JAMMU, JAN 28 (KNS) ; In a swift response to widespread disruptions in road and air connectivity caused by severe weather and heavy snowfall, the Northern Railway's Jammu Division on Wednesday operationalized a special reserved train service between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, augmenting its capacity with two additional AC coaches to accommodate stranded passengers.

 

Official sources confirmed to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that special train numbers 04629 and 04630 were deployed on the route, considering the significant influx of tourists to the Kashmir Valley. "To ensure a comfortable journey for the large number of passengers and to clear the waiting list, two extra AC coaches were added to the train formation. This provided 144 additional berths," a senior railway officer said.

 

The move, hailed as a "positive step" by passengers, ensured that those on waitlisted tickets secured confirmed seats, offering critical relief during the travel crisis induced by the inclement conditions.

 

Detailing the operations, officials stated that Train 04629 departed from Katra at its scheduled time of 10:30 AM, carrying over 800 passengers.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIts counterpart, Train 04630, left Srinagar at 3:00 PM with over 850 passengers on board.

 

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Jammu) Uchit Singhal, speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), highlighted the impact of the initiative. "The special trains run on January 27 and 28 provided much-needed relief as other modes of transport were hit. More than 3000 passengers traveled over these two days and have expressed their gratitude," he said.

 

Significantly, Singhal stated that the occupancy of these special services exceeded 100 per cent. "The revenue generation saw an increase due to the addition of the extra coaches. This train not only provided comfort but also operated at full capacity on this historic route, generating record earnings in this challenging situation," he added.

 

He further emphasized that such proactive measures by the railways would bolster confidence among travelers and tourists, potentially contributing to a rise in tourist footfall to Jammu and Kashmir in the future. (KNS)