Western Railway has decided to extend the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express (train numbers 19223/19224) up to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Once extended, passengers travelling from Gujarat to Vaishno Devi will get direct rail connectivity. The train will also get additional stoppages at Samba, Badi Brahmna and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan stations along its route.
According to Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, train number 19223 Sabarmati-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express will depart from Sabarmati daily at 10:25 am from 18 October 2026 and reach Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra at 6:55 pm the following day.
Similarly, on the return leg, train number 19224 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Sabarmati Express will depart from Katra daily at 4:50 am from 20 October 2026 and reach Sabarmati at 2:05 pm the next day. This train will also run daily.
Additional stoppages at these stations
With the extension, passengers will get some new stoppages. Samba and Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan stations will get additional stoppages in both directions. Train number 19223 will also get an additional stoppage at Badi Brahmna station. The decision is expected to bring considerable convenience to passengers travelling to Jammu and Kashmir, particularly pilgrims heading to Katra for darshan at Vaishno Devi.
Timings of these trains will also change
Because the Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express is being extended to Katra, timings of some other trains at Jammu Tawi station have also been revised. Train number 19415 Sabarmati-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express will reach Jammu Tawi at 4:05 am and depart at 4:15 am from 25 October 2026, reaching Katra at 6:25 am.
Train number 12919 Dr. Ambedkar Nagar-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Malwa Express will reach Jammu Tawi at 2:15 pm and depart at 2:20 pm from 18 October 2026. Train number 12471 Bandra Terminus-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Swaraj Express will see a timing change from 18 October, reaching Jammu Tawi at 2:32 pm and departing at 2:37 pm.
Train number 12473 Gandhidham-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Swaraj Express will see a timing change from 24 October, reaching Jammu Tawi at 2:32 pm and departing at 2:37 pm. Train number 12475 Hapa-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Swaraj Express will reach Jammu Tawi at 2:32 pm and depart at 2:37 pm from 20 October. Train number 12477 Jamnagar-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Swaraj Express will follow the same Jammu Tawi timings from 21 October.
When will bookings begin?
According to Western Railway, bookings for journeys starting from 7 October 2026 on trains 19223, 12919, 12471, 12473, 12475 and 12477 had been temporarily suspended for operational reasons. These bookings will resume from 21 August 2026, after which passengers will be able to book tickets as per the railways' 60-day Advance Reservation Period (ARP).