New Delhi: Indian Railways is set to bolster its connectivity to Kashmir with the likely launch of two new trains next month.The first is a centrally heated sleeper train, not a Vande Bharat as previously speculated, that will ply between New Delhi and Srinagar. Designed for a 13- hour journey, part of which traverses snow-capped mountain landscapes and crosses the iconic 359-m-high Chenab Bridge, the train promises enhanced comfort but will not include second-class sleeper accommodations, ET has learnt.The second train is an eight-coach Vande Bharat, featuring chair car seating, tailored for the shorter Katra-Baramulla route, according to a senior railway officer familiar with the plan. This train too includes specialised features, such as silicon heating pads for water tanks to prevent freezing and toilets equipped with warm air, courtesy of specially designed ducts.The front glass for the loco pilots has been specially designed with embedded heating elements — a first for Indian Railways — to ensure it remains defrosted in sub-zero temperatures, the official said. This Vande Bharat service will drastically reduce travel time, completing the 246-km journey between Katra and Baramulla in just three-and-a-half hours, compared to over 10 hours by bus. On the rail route, Baramulla is 57 km beyond Srinagar.Katra, the gateway to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, is a major pilgrim hub and is currently connected to New Delhi by a 16-coach Vande Bharat Express operating six days a week.“Once the Katra-Baramulla Vande Bharat becomes operational, likely by late next month, passengers will be able to seamlessly journey from New Delhi to Katra in our existing Vande Bharat and then transfer to the new service to reach Srinagar or Baramulla,” the official said.