Railways Successfully Conduct First Trial Run on Katra-Banihal Stretch of USBRL Project
Jammu, Jan 4: The Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone today with the successful trial run of a train on the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL) Project. The trial, conducted ahead of the final inspection, marked a crucial step toward operationalizing the railway service to Kashmir.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the USBRL Project, Sandeep Gupta, accompanied by officials from USBRL, Northern Railway, and construction companies, was onboard for the trial run. The train traversed the entire stretch between Katra and Banihal, thrilling passengers as it passed through breathtaking snow-clad mountains.
The trial follows six previous runs conducted over the past month on various segments of the track, including major engineering landmarks such as the Anji Khad cable-stayed rail bridge and the iconic arch bridge over the Chenab at Kauri, the world’s highest railway bridge.
“This trial run was part of safety testing, and it was successful,” CAO Sandeep Gupta told reporters. He added that the Commissioner of Railway Safety would conduct statutory inspections and trials on January 7 and 8. “The Commissioner will submit a report following these inspections, which will guide the decision on starting train services to Kashmir,” Gupta said.
He further explained that today’s trial run reached a speed of 75 kmph, while upcoming trials by the Commissioner would achieve speeds of 110 kmph. “This successful trial is preparation for those high-speed tests,” he noted.
The Katra-Banihal stretch features awe-inspiring engineering marvels. The Anji Khad bridge, a cable-stayed structure with a single pylon standing 331 meters above the riverbed, boasts 48 lateral and central span cables and is the second-highest railway bridge in the world after the Chenab arch bridge. The Chenab bridge, towering 359 meters above the riverbed, surpasses the Eiffel Tower in height by 35 meters and stands as a symbol of India’s engineering prowess.
Construction of the Anji Khad bridge began in 2017, and the structure now measures 191 meters above its foundation level, with a total length of 473.25 meters. The Chenab bridge, meanwhile, features a stunning viaduct spanning 120 meters and a central embankment of 94.25 meters.
Officials reported that today’s train reached Banihal Railway Station at around 1:30 pm, marking a successful preliminary step toward bringing the region closer to the rest of India.
In November, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh had announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi might inaugurate the Vande Bharat train connecting Kashmir to New Delhi via the USBRL project this month. The successful trial run on the Katra-Banihal section brings the ambitious project closer to realization, promising to transform connectivity and boost the region’s economy.
