In light of the approaching Sharad Navratri festivities commencing on October 11 and continuing through October 20, Indian Railways has stepped forward to manage the anticipated surge of devotees traveling to prominent pilgrimage destinations. To facilitate convenient and comfortable travel for devotees heading to the revered shrine in the hills of Jammu, the Northern Railway zone has introduced a dedicated daily festival special train connecting New Delhi with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. The service aims to alleviate the severe ticket waitlists typically witnessed across routine express trains during this festive window.
Daily Operations Scheduled from October 12 Through October 26
According to the operational details shared by Northern Railway, this holiday special service will run on a daily basis between October 12 and October 26. In the outbound direction, the service originating from New Delhi and terminating at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra will be in service every day from October 12 through October 25. For returning passengers, the train operating from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra back to the capital will run daily starting October 13 and wrapping up on October 26, effectively covering the peak pilgrimage rush from start to finish.
Route Coverage, Key Halts, and Coach Profile
Information sourced from the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) portal confirms that the special service will cover an overall distance of 655 km within a travel timeframe of 12 hours and 15 minutes. Along its path through Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu, designated halts have been assigned in both directions at Panipat Junction, Kurukshetra Junction, Ambala Cantt, Ludhiana Junction, Jalandhar Cantt, Pathankot Cantt, Jammu Tawi, and Shahid Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur) railway stations. Catering to varied budget groups, the train composition includes Third Class AC coaches, Sleeper Class coaches, and General unreserved seating.
Detailed Schedule for Train Number 04081 Outbound to Katra
As per the NTES schedule, train number 04081, running from New Delhi to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, will pull out of New Delhi every night at 23:45 hours. Continuing its overnight run, the train will reach Panipat at 01:00 hours, Kurukshetra at 01:52 hours, and Ambala Cantt at 02:40 hours. Progressing into Punjab, it will halt at Ludhiana Junction at 04:20 hours, Jalandhar Cantt at 05:27 hours, and Pathankot Junction at 07:20 hours. Crossing into the northern division, it will touch Jammu Tawi at 09:25 hours and Shahid Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur) at 11:10 hours before arriving at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 12:00 noon.
Detailed Schedule for Train Number 04082 Return Service to New Delhi
On the return leg, train number 04082, operating from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to New Delhi, will begin its journey from Katra nightly at 21:00 hours. The train will make its first scheduled stops at Shahid Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur) at 21:30 hours and Jammu Tawi at 23:05 hours. Moving through the midnight hours, it will halt at Pathankot Cantt at 00:50 hours, Jalandhar Cantt at 02:50 hours, and Ludhiana Junction at 03:50 hours. During the morning section of the trip, the train stops at Ambala Cantt at 05:50 hours, Kurukshetra Junction at 06:27 hours, and Panipat Junction at 07:27 hours, ultimately reaching New Delhi at 10:00 hours.
