In order to offer relief to traders in Kashmir Valley, particularly fruit growers and handicraft merchants, Jammu Division of Northern Railway will operate a Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) train between Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi and Budgam in Kashmir from today. The service will run regularly on a trial basis till May 31, after which it is likely to be inducted into regular service subject to satisfactory occupancy levels. Train No. 00462 will depart from Budgam at 6.15 AM and arrive at Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, at 5 AM the following day.

To facilitate loading and unloading operations enroute, the train will also make scheduled halts at Bari Brahmana and Ambala cantonment stations. The timing for the Train at Bari Brahmana Railway Station has been revised to provide greater convenience to the trading community. On the return journey, Train No. 00461 will depart from Adarsh Nagar at 5 AM and arrive at Budgam at 10:45 AM the next day. This special parcel train would consist of eight parcel vans and one seating-cum-luggage rake.

The railways said the service offers faster transit than road transport, covering the distance in 23-24 hours and ensuring perishable goods such as apples and cherries remain fresh. This initiative has been undertaken with the objective of strengthening the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and facilitating the rapid transport of local products-such as saffron, walnuts, pashmina shawls, and handicrafts, to markets across the country.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the Northern Railway has decided to run the parcel train on a regular basis from today to May 31, following persistent demand from traders and farmers, and the primary objective is to provide fruit growers and handicraft traders in Kashmir with a fast, safe, and economical mode of transport.