Health & Lifestyle
Indian Railways Reopens Both Tracks on Kathua-Madhopur Section
Rail traffic to and from Jammu will be fully restored from May 31 following the completion of repair work on a flood-damaged railway bridge between Kathua and Madhopur, paving the way for the resumption of several major passenger trains and smoother freight movement.
Normal rail traffic to and from Jammu will resume completely from May 31 after more than nine months, following the restoration of Railway Bridge No. 17 located between the Kathua and Madhopur rail section.
The bridge had suffered severe damage during flash floods last year, forcing railway authorities to operate only a single track for several months while repair and strengthening work continued.
According to railway officials, interlocking work on the restored section will be completed on May 31, after which train operations on both Up and Down lines will return to normal from June onwards.
The restoration will enable the resumption of several important long-distance trains, including services such as the MCTM Udhampur Superfast Express, Durg Superfast Express, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Express, Sabarmati Express, Jammu Tawi Garib Rath Express, Kothgodam Garib Rath Express, Jammu Tawi Humsafar Express, Tirupati Humsafar Express, and other weekly and regular services.
To accommodate increased passenger demand during the summer holiday season, the Jammu Railway Division has also decided to add additional coaches to the Jammu Tawi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Express.
Railway authorities stated that the restoration of both tracks will significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure smoother train movement across the section.
The reopening is expected to benefit thousands of passengers travelling to Jammu and the pilgrimage destination of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. It will also support freight transportation, commercial supply chains, and military logistics in the strategically important region.
A railway spokesperson said all restored trains will operate according to their scheduled routes, timings, and stoppages. Passengers have been advised to verify train status through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES), Railway Helpline 139, or official railway platforms before commencing their journeys.
