VINOD BHAT
DELHI, Oct 2: In a major milestone for railway connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir, the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal railway section has been raised to 100 kmph, with the enhanced speed successfully tested by the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express on Friday.
The Vande Bharat, operating as Train Nos. 26401/26404, crossed both the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Rail Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, at 100 kmph, marking a significant operational achievement on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
The speed enhancement is expected to improve train operations on the challenging Himalayan section, reduce running time and provide passengers with faster and more efficient connectivity between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the development on Friday and described the achievement as a historic milestone for the railway network in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speed limit raised from earlier levels
The 100-kmph maximum permissible speed represents a significant increase over the earlier operating limits on the Katra-Banihal section.
Before the latest enhancement, trains were permitted to operate at up to 85 kmph between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Sangaldan, while the maximum permissible speed between Sangaldan and Banihal was 75 kmph.
The revised speed limit followed technical inspections, track assessments and safety testing undertaken by the Railways. The higher speed clearance was aimed at allowing trains to make better use of the infrastructure constructed as part of the USBRL.
Friday’s successful operation was particularly significant because it demonstrated the actual running of the Vande Bharat at the newly permitted speed across the two most prominent bridges on the section.
The higher speed is expected to improve operational efficiency and provide scope for reducing running time. The actual reduction in scheduled journey time, however, will depend on station halts, gradients, curves, signalling requirements and other operational restrictions along the route.
Vande Bharat crosses world’s highest railway bridge
The Chenab Rail Bridge remained the centrepiece of Friday’s achievement.
Located in Reasi district, the bridge stands 359 metres above the riverbed and stretches approximately 1,315 metres across the Chenab River, making it the world’s highest railway arch bridge.
The bridge rises about 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower and has been constructed to withstand the severe climatic and geological conditions of the Himalayan region.
Its design incorporates measures to withstand high wind speeds, seismic activity and the difficult geological conditions of the mountain terrain. The bridge has been designed for a service life of approximately 120 years.
The successful passage of the Vande Bharat at 100 kmph demonstrates that the spectacular structure is not merely an engineering landmark but a fully operational component of the modern railway network connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.
Anji Bridge adds another record
The Vande Bharat also crossed the Anji Rail Bridge at 100 kmph, adding another milestone to the operation.
The Anji Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge and forms an important part of the Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL.
The bridge spans the deep Anji River valley and rises approximately 331 metres above the riverbed. Its total length is around 725 metres and the structure is supported by 96 high-tensile cables.
An inverted-Y-shaped pylon rises approximately 193 metres above the foundation, while hundreds of kilometres of cable strands were used in the construction of the structure.
The successful operation of the Vande Bharat at 100 kmph over both the Chenab and Anji bridges underlines the operational capability of the railway infrastructure created across the difficult Himalayan terrain.
USBRL transforms rail connectivity
The latest development is part of the continuing transformation of rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir following completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link.
The USBRL is among the country’s most challenging railway projects, involving the construction of 36 tunnels with a combined length of around 119 km and more than 900 bridges across rugged Himalayan terrain.
The railway alignment has been designed to negotiate deep valleys, steep mountain slopes, unstable geological formations and extreme weather conditions.
The project includes some of India’s most ambitious railway engineering structures, including the Chenab Rail Bridge and Anji Bridge.
The completion of the USBRL has provided the Kashmir Valley with an all-weather railway connection to the national railway network and has substantially strengthened the region’s transportation infrastructure.
Faster Jammu-Srinagar connectivity
The enhanced speed is expected to further improve the performance of Vande Bharat services between Jammu and Srinagar.
The Vande Bharat service was introduced following the completion of the USBRL’s critical Katra-Sangaldan section and subsequently became an important passenger link between the Jammu region and Kashmir Valley.
The service has since been extended to Jammu Tawi, providing passengers with a direct Vande Bharat connection between Jammu and Srinagar.
The trains operating on the Kashmir route have been specially configured to function in harsh winter conditions, including temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius.
The services have also been expanded to 20 coaches to meet growing passenger demand.
The combination of modern rolling stock and progressively improved railway infrastructure is expected to strengthen passenger movement between Jammu and Kashmir throughout the year.
Potential boost to tourism and trade
The higher permissible speed could have significance beyond the immediate reduction in railway running time.
Faster rail connectivity can make travel more convenient for tourists, pilgrims, students, employees and business travellers moving between Jammu and Kashmir.
The all-weather railway connection is particularly important during periods when road traffic is affected by snowfall, landslides, congestion or other weather-related disruptions.
Improved rail connectivity can also support the transportation of Kashmir’s horticultural and agricultural produce to markets outside the Valley.
Apple growers, dry-fruit traders, handicraft businesses and other local producers can potentially benefit from a more dependable rail network connecting them with markets across the country.
For tourism, the combination of direct Vande Bharat services, improved operating speeds and the spectacular Chenab and Anji bridges adds another dimension to the Jammu-Kashmir travel experience.
From engineering challenge to operational success
The 100-kmph run represents an important transition in the story of the USBRL.
For years, the project was associated primarily with the enormous engineering challenges involved in constructing tunnels, bridges and railway tracks through the Himalayas.
Today, those structures form part of a functioning railway corridor carrying regular passenger services.
The Chenab Bridge and Anji Bridge have moved from being symbols of engineering ambition to operational components of one of India’s most important railway connections.
Friday’s speed test demonstrates that the focus is now increasingly shifting from completing the infrastructure to improving its operational efficiency and passenger experience.
Another milestone for Kashmir’s railway network
The development comes after a series of major railway achievements in Jammu and Kashmir, including completion of the USBRL, electrification of the Kashmir Valley railway network and introduction of Vande Bharat services.
The railway has progressively emerged as a dependable alternative to road transportation for passengers travelling between different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country.
The increase in the Katra-Banihal speed limit to 100 kmph is expected to further strengthen that role.
For passengers, the significance of Friday’s achievement will ultimately be reflected in faster journeys, improved operational efficiency, greater reliability and stronger connectivity between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.
The image of a Vande Bharat travelling at 100 kmph across the world’s highest railway arch bridge and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge has added another landmark to the rapidly evolving railway story of Jammu and Kashmir.
