The third longest running train in India, in terms of time and distance, the Himsagar Express that goes to Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu in 70 hours, used to originate from here.

There existed an old station in the city, on the Jammu–Sialkot Line, which had train services to Sialkot Junction, now in Pakistan, 43 km (27 mi) away.

The old Jammu station was built in around 1897 but was abandoned after the Partition of India as the railway link to Sialkot was broken.

Jammu had no rail services until 1971, when the Indian Railways laid the Pathankot–Jammu Tawi broad-gauge line.

The entire Jalandhar–Jammu section, Jammu Tawi station and sidings have been completely energized to 25 kV AC and approved for electric traction in August 2014.