Now, a direct train from Chennai to Vaishno Devi Katra station

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today extended the service of Chennai Central-Jammu Tawi Andaman Express train up to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station in Jammu and Kashmir.
While extending the train service from Jammu to Katra through remote control from here, Prabhu said it is necessary to provide good transportation facilities to places of pilgrimage from every part of the country.
The tri-weekly train service will have a stoppage at Uddhampur station between Jammu and Katra.
"Railways is making sincere efforts to provide best connectivity to the places of pilgrimage. We are committed to the development of railway infrastructure in the state of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Prabhu said he would soon hold a meeting in Jammu to review the progress of various railway projects in the state.
Besides Prabhu, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Jitender Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh and senior railway officials were present at the event at Rail Bhavan here.