JAMMU: The journey time of the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express could come down by up to 20 minutes when Northern Railway revises its timetable, following an increase in the maximum permissible speed to 100 kmph across the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).The speed enhancement, introduced in October, allows trains to operate at higher speeds on a stretch where restrictions of around 75-85 kmph were earlier in force. The relaxation is expected to help reduce the overall journey time of the Vande Bharat services connecting Jammu with Srinagar.However, passengers may have to wait for the shorter journey time to take effect, as tickets have already been booked well in advance under the existing timetable.“Although the maximum permissible speed has been increased to 100 kmph across the section, the revised timings will be planned in due course. The revised timings will therefore be introduced when Northern Railway undertakes its next timetable revision,” a senior railway official said.The 272-km USBRL project, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, completed the rail link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the Indian Railways network. Built at a cost of around ₹43,780 crore, the project includes 36 tunnels spanning about 119 km and 943 bridges. Its major engineering landmarks include the Chenab railway bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Khad bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.The service was extended from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Jammu Tawi on May 2, 2026, covering around 266 km between Jammu and Srinagar. Two pairs of trains operate on the route, providing four services a day on most days of the week. Train 26401 departs Jammu at 6.20am and reaches Srinagar at 11.10am, while train 26403 leaves Jammu at 1.20pm and arrives in Srinagar at 6pm. In the reverse direction, train 26404 leaves Srinagar at 8am and reaches Jammu at 12.40pm, while train 26402 departs Srinagar at 2pm and arrives in Jammu at 6.50pm.The Railways has left room for doubling the line when additional tracks are laid on this single-track route. This will allow an increase in the number of services in the future.