Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station is a train station on the Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It belongs to the Firozpur Division of Northern Railway zone in Jammu and Kashmir. It serves Katra town and the Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple.HistoryIn 1898, Maharana Rana Prathap Singh first explored to connect Jammu with Srinagar. But due to non-co ordination and other reasons, it stopped.In April 2005, the Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway Link was completed up to Udhampur Railway Station from Jammu side and up to Banihal Railway Station from Srinagar side. Pirpanjal railway tunnel was completed and testing was being conducted in 2012. The rail link was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 July 2014 at 10:00 A.M. This means that Katra is currently the northern terminus of the southern section of the Jammu–Baramulla line as well as the northernmost place accessible on the contiguous network of Indian RailwaysA 1 megawatt solar power plant was commissioned at the station in March 2015.Passenger amenitiesThe Ground Floor of Katra railway station has escalators, lifts, current reservation, second class booking, train enquiry section, pilgrim guide, tourist assistance, VIP lounge, a fully air-conditioned hotel with a shopping lounge, multi-cuisine restaurant, cloak room, waiting hall, a book stall, tea stall, toilet blocks, and catering area. The first floor accommodates 8 retiring rooms and a cafeteria. A huge parking place also constructed to accommodate cars and passenger buses.