This train is fast changing the way people travel in the Kashmir valley. Almost nine months since it made its debut on a standalone stretch in the Valley, the Anantnag-Srinagar-Baramulla train service has already carried 11.5 lakh passengers and earned Rs 98 lakh as revenue through the sale of passenger tickets, underlining how well the local population has taken to this new mode of transport that was alien to them till a few months back.

Ever since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the first 66-km-long stretch on this 101-km-long section in October 2008, the glistening red and blue Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit (DEMU) has gone on to become the preferred mode of travel in the Valley, even if it means that people have to walk a few hundred metres through dusty lanes to reach most of the 13 railway stations en route.

When it started operations, it was curiosity, more than anything else, which drew the masses to this eight-coach train. Several months down the line, the sight of local people lining up at railway stations like Bijbehara and Awantipora to board this train bears testimony to its ever-growing popularity.

A one-hour ride from Anantnag to Srinagar is all it takes to gauge the impact this 90-seat chair car train is having on the minds of the people.

Between October 12, 2008 and June 30 this year, the Anantnag railway station handled over 3.4 lakh passengers, a smaller station like Kakpora handled 66,875 passengers while the Srinagar railway station handled over 2.2 lakh passengers. Anantnag station also emerged as the biggest money-spinner during this period showing earnings of almost Rs 34 lakh from passenger fares. Srinagar came a close second with Rs 24 lakh as earnings in the same period.

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