First train between Delhi, Katra starts Monday

The first superfast New Delhi-Katra train called "Shri Shakti Express" will start from New Delhi and Katra railway stations Monday evening.

Indian railway sources told IANS that "Shri Shakti Express" will leave New Delhi railway station at 5.30 p.m. Monday and reach Mata Vaishno Devi railway station (Katra) at 5.10 a.m. Tuesday.

Katra is the base camp town of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine which is visited by millions of devotees from all over the country each year.

The superfast air-conditioned 18-coach train will cover the distance between Katra town in Reasi district of Jammu region and New Delhi in approximately 12 hours.

The train will leave Katra at 10.55 p.m. Monday and reach New Delhi at 10.45 a.m. Tuesday.

Railway sources said the operations of "Shri Shakti Express" train service will start from Delhi and Katra the same day.

"Shri Shakti Express" train has one first class AC, five AC two-tier and nine AC three-tier coaches.

The train will stop at Ambala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Jammu and Udhampur.

Indian railway sources told IANS the next train to be started from Katra town would be the "Katra-Kalika" express.

"Jammu mail and Uttar Samparak Kranti trains would also be subsequently extended to Katra railway station in the future," railway sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first train from Katra town to Udhampur town in Jammu region of the state July 4.