A Vande Bharat Express crosses the Chenab Bridge for the first time, Thursday after Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the 20-coach train service between Jammu and Srinagar. Services for the public will commence on May 2. (PTI) Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday flagged off the first direct Vande Bharat Express from Jammu to Srinagar, which will not only provide all-weather connectivity between the UT capitals but also reduce travel time. It takes 6.5 to 7 hours to travel by car via the Jammu-Srinagar national highway (NH44), which can be closed for days due to landslides during rain and snowfall. With the train, the journey will be completed in just under five hours. Vande Bharat’s schedule The train with 20 coaches will operate six days a week from May 2 (except Tuesdays). This is an extended operation, as the Vande Bharat Express with eight coaches has been operational on the Katra-Srinagar section since June 2025.…