A major milestone in mountain railway operations was achieved in Jammu and Kashmir as the Vande Bharat Express successfully traversed the world's highest Chenab railway bridge at a speed of 100 km per hour. Situated at a towering height of 1178 feet above the riverbed, the engineering marvel accommodated the semi-high-speed train seamlessly alongside the country's first cable-stayed Anji bridge at the same tested pace. The milestone represents a major step forward for high-speed connectivity across complex Himalayan railway terrain.
Speed Limit Upgraded on Katra-Banihal Railway Corridor
The speed threshold for train services operating under Northern Railway on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section has been formally raised. Across this 111-kilometer stretch, trains previously ran at an upper speed threshold of 75 kmph. Following comprehensive track evaluations and infrastructure readiness checks, the maximum operating speed has now been elevated to 100 kmph. A field trial was executed to validate the higher threshold, during which Vande Bharat Express train number 26401/26404 crossed both the Chenab arch structure and the Anji bridge at the full 100 kmph velocity.
Marking the occasion, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X highlighting the 100 kmph run across India's engineering marvel. According to details released by the Ministry of Railways, the speed ramp-up across the Katra-Banihal section forms an integral part of ongoing system improvements along the Northern Railway network.
Shorter Travel Duration on USBRL Corridor
Enhancing track clearance speeds up to 100 kmph will optimize train flow across the challenging Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) undertaking. With trains no longer restricted to 75 kmph over critical sections, journey duration across the valley line will decrease substantially. Commuters can look forward to a faster, safer, and notably smoother travel experience through the mountainous corridor.
Passenger Services Currently Running Across Chenab Bridge
At present, a total of 3 passenger services operate across the Chenab railway bridge. The schedule includes the following train pairs
- Train number 26401/26402 Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express
- Train number 26403/26404 Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express
- Train number 14687/14688 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal Express
Route flexibility and passenger accessibility along the corridor saw another enhancement in June when an official stoppage was introduced for the Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express at Anantnag station. Prior to that revision, the service observed halts exclusively at Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan (Udhampur), Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Reasi, and Banihal stations. The introduction of the extra stop alongside the newly verified 100 kmph operating limit delivers improved direct transit for valley travelers.
