Prayagraj: Devotees from the Sangam city planning a pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi have received welcome news as direct and daily train connectivity from Subedarganj to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra has been restored. The wait for passengers seeking a direct rail link to Katra has finally ended with the resumption of Train No. 20433 Subedarganj-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu Mail from June 15.
Background of the Service Disruption
The train’s operation was earlier curtailed up to Ambala, disrupting direct travel to Katra since October last year. Although the Railways announced that services beyond Ambala to Katra would resume from May 31, the restoration could not be implemented as scheduled, causing inconvenience to passengers who had already started booking tickets.
Surge in Passenger Demand
With the service now being restored, passenger demand has surged. Railway officials said all seats for the June 15 journey have been booked, and even waiting-list tickets are no longer available. For the June 16 trip, long waiting lists have been reported including sleeper and air-conditioned coaches.
Train Schedule and Return Service
Train No. 20433 will depart from Subedarganj Railway Station at 10:35 am. The return service, Train No. 20434 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Subedarganj Jammu Mail, has also resumed operations on its regular route from June 15. Meanwhile, Train No. 22431 Subedarganj-Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Express will resume operations from June 16. The train will leave Subedarganj at 4:10 pm. Railway sources said seats on this train have also been fully booked, reflecting the high demand for travel to Jammu & Kashmir during the pilgrimage season.
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About the Author: Rajeev Mani has been working in TOI's Prayagraj bureau for the past two decades, handles beats from education to excise and taxation to aviation. Loves travelling, singing and meeting people, especially academics. Have extensively covered two Ardh Kumbhs (2007 and 2019) and two Maha kumbhs (2013 and 2025) along with different assembly and General Elections.
