Commuters face tough time due to revised timetable of train service between Srinagar and Banihal

Banihal, Aug 12: The revised railway timetable between Srinagar, Anantnag and Banihal has caused manifold difficulties to thousands of commuters and tourists, with a long gap of five and a half hours in train services during daytime.

The suspension of train services from 10:30 am to 04:00 pm has forced many to switch to other means of road transport, leading them to higher travel costs, long journey times and exposure to traffic congestion.

Railway officials however link the new schedule to the uninterrupted operation of the Vande Bharat Express service.

Though the new timetable ensures smooth running of two Vande Bharat trains and one Mail Express between Katra and Srinagar, it has severely curtailed the availability of affordable, safe, and time efficient rail travel for local passengers, passengers informed.

Under the revised timetable, effective from April 01 this year, seven trains run in each direction between Banihal and Srinagar in the morning and evening hours. However, between 10:45 am and 3:05 pm no trains operate from Banihal to Anantnag and Srinagar, and between 10:30 am and 4:03 pm no services are available from Srinagar to Anantnag and Banihal.

The passengers said the decision has impacted a wide range of travelers  including daily commuters, tourists, patients, students, and traders,  many of whom now have no choice but to rely on road transport during the day.

The commuters have demanded the previous timetable be restored for the Banihal–Srinagar section during daytime hours to prevent further inconvenience to passengers.

Railway officials on conditions of anonymity told Greater Kashmir that the changes were necessary to accommodate the Vande Bharat and Mail Express services on the Katra–Srinagar route.

They added that train operations between Budgam and Baramulla remain unaffected, with around ten trains running in each direction daily on that section.