Vinod Bhat
Jammu, Aug 20: Passengers travelling on the Vande Bharat train can now expect shorter journey times between Katra and Banihal after Northern Railway enhanced the permissible speed on the newly commissioned railway section, including the iconic Chenab Bridge.
According to details, the Railway Ministry has approved increasing the maximum permissible speed to 100 kmph on the 111-kilometre Broad Gauge section between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal under the Jammu Division of Northern Railway.
The revised speed limit has enabled the Vande Bharat train to operate at nearly 100 kmph on the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, marking the first such operation at the enhanced speed on the bridge.
Previously, trains were permitted to run at a maximum speed of 85 kmph between Katra and Sangaldan, while the limit on the Sangaldan-Banihal stretch was 75 kmph.
Northern Railway said the speed enhancement was cleared after all prescribed safety requirements and conditions were met.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal, said the higher speed limit would help reduce travel time and improve connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the move would offer passengers faster, safer and more comfortable travel, while also supporting tourism, trade and other economic activities in the region.
The revised speed limit is also expected to further bring down the travel time between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal, improving rail connectivity across the Jammu-Srinagar corridor.—
