Jammu, Oct 02 (KNO): Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday said that the Indian Railways has achieved yet another operational milestone on the Jammu-Srinagar rail link, as the maximum permissible speed on the 111-kilometre Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section stands raised from 75 kmph to 100 kmph.
The Railway Minister, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “The enhanced speed limit successfully was tested on Thursday, marking an important step towards improving train operations on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).”
He said, “The Vande Bharat Express (Train Nos. 26401/26404) also created a new operational record by crossing both the Chenab Rail Bridge and the Anji Rail Bridge at a speed of 100 kmph.”
Pertinently, the achievement is particularly significant given the engineering complexity of the route. The Chenab Rail Bridge, constructed across the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, is recognised as the world’s highest railway arch bridge, while the Anji Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
The increase in the permissible speed on the Katra-Banihal section is expected to streamline train operations and help reduce journey time between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. It is also expected to improve the overall efficiency of services operating on the USBRL network.
The development comes as the Indian Railways continues to strengthen infrastructure and operational capabilities on the strategically important rail corridor connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country.
Railway officials have described the successful 100-kmph run across the major bridges as an important demonstration of the infrastructure's operational readiness. The upgraded speed capability is expected to contribute to faster, smoother and more reliable passenger services on the route.
With the Katra-Banihal section now cleared for speeds of up to 100 kmph, the latest development represents another major step in the ongoing expansion and modernisation of rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)