Srinagar, April 24 -- Srinagar-In a major boost to rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, a specially designed Vande Bharat Express will begin operations between Jammu and Srinagar from April 30, with the existing service extended up to Jammu Tawi, officials said on Friday.

The semi-high-speed train, which has been operating between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar for over nine months, will now run from Jammu Tawi, providing a direct rail link between the twin capitals of the Union Territory.

The inaugural run of the extended service will be flagged off as a special train from Jammu at 10:30 am on April 30, according to a notification issued by Northern Railway.

The Vande Bharat service on this route is part of the Udhampur-...