Mata Vaishno Devi is one of India’s most revered and frequented shrines. With the opening of a railway station right at the base of the shrine (i.e., Katra), it has become extremely convenient for the devotees. With each passing year, new trains are being introduced from various parts of the country. Shri Shakti Express was among the initial ones that were introduced by the Indian Railways. Presently, there are roughly 10 direct trains to Katra (SVDK), though not all of them run daily.
The purpose of this review is to provide you with information to help you decide if this train could be the right one for you.
If you are planning a weekend trip to Vaishno Devi then do check out our train recommendations here.
Lets begin with some key information about the train.
| Train Number and Train Name | 22461 – Shri Shakti Express | |||||
| Source station | New Delhi station (NDLS)
Scheduled Departure: 19:05 |
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| Destination station | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK)
Scheduled Arrival: 05:40 |
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| Total Distance Covered (km) | 655 | |||||
| Total Travel Time (hr:mm) (including halts) | 10:35 | |||||
| Halts / Stops (Excluding Source/Destination) | 6 | |||||
| Average Speed (including halts) | 61 kmph | |||||
| Coaches | 1AC 2AC 3AC | |||||
| Runs on | Daily | |||||
| Cost |
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| Return Train Number and Train Name |
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| Runs on | Daily |
What we like about it:
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Train and Coach quality:
The first impression when you look at the train is simply a feeling of wow. It shines from the outside and there are no nasty surprises inside. Everything is spic and span. One of the few trains we have come across that we feel happy to travel in.
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Hygiene and cleanliness:
As mentioned in the quality of the coach, the overall cleanliness is very good. Happy to report that the toilets are bio-toilets and are very well tended to, so no unpleasant surprises there.
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Highly impressive NVH levels:
The noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels inside the train are impressive. We have travelled in premier trains like Rajdhani and have always wondered when will our trains match the levels of western countries. But happy to report that this one comes close. Once inside, you will not feel a thing. If you get into the upper berths then you will not even feel that the train is moving, that is the level of sound damping.
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Punctuality:
The train is extremely punctual and reliable. It has an impeccable record of being on time. In the last year, it was on time 95% of the time which is no mean feat. The return journey to Delhi has an on-time record of 86% which is excellent.
So, if you are looking for reliability then look no further.
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Number of stops:
There are only 6 scheduled stops for this train and those also of the major cities en route. This, we feel is very good to maintain the on-time performance of the train as frequent stops slow down the pace.
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Availability of tickets:
Though we have listed the ticket availability in the pro section, it does not mean that you can leave it to the last minute. As with any train, you will have to plan your trip well in advance. But just in case you have left it to the last minute, we have always managed to procure the tickets via tatkal.
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Timing:
The timings of this train (especially from Katra) are very convenient as it starts quite late in the day. You can easily complete your yatra, take some rest and then catch this train. Even the train from Delhi starts late in the evening which could be convenient for some. Since most of the journey happens overnight, you will be left refreshed the next day.
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Frequency:
The train runs on all the days of the week so you have this option available throughout.
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Source and Destination stations:
The train runs all through to Katra which makes it convenient to start the yatra right at the doorstep. It saves a couple of hours of journey from Jammu. While returning, after a tiring hike to the shrine, it helps to have this train start from Katra itself.
What we don’t like about it:
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Cost:
This is a fully air-conditioned train which might be an issue for people looking to travel on a budget. Though the fares are completely justified for the amenities provided, it is still a point to consider.
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Travel time:
It roughly takes 10 hours and 45 minutes to complete this journey which we feel is slightly on the higher side compared to the faster trains on this route. To give a comparative feel, the fastest train takes 8 hours. We feel that speed could be increased to reduce to the overall time spent on the train.
Final Verdict
Shri Shakti Express came as a real surprise for us during one of our trips to Vaishno Devi. The quality of the train, cleanliness, NVH levels and the overall experience that one gets on this train makes it a no-brainer to recommend it.
The only real issue is the absence of sleeper coaches which makes it difficult to consider for people looking to travel on a budget. But if you are looking to spend a bit more, then you will not regret the decision. The other con mentioned of the extra travel time is not much of a concern as the experience of being inside will not make you want to leave it.
The train, for sure, is worthy of plying devotees to such a holy place and we hope that these quality levels are maintained in the long run.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
