Jammu, Sept. 17 -- The much-awaited Jammu-Srinagar direct train service is likely to become operational by the end of October, sources said.

They said that the service, part of the prestigious 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, is being seen as a major step in connecting the Valley with the rest of the country through uninterrupted rail travel.

According to officials, the service is expected to begin once the pending works at Jammu railway station are wrapped up. The expansion of Jammu railway station was scheduled to be completed by September. However, the pace of work slowed due to multiple factors, pushing the deadline back by nearly three weeks.

A senior railway official said that the final work is yet to...