Vande Bharat Express Completes Historic Trial Run in Jammu and Kashmir
SRINAGAR, Jan 25: After years of persistent effort and engineering excellence, Kashmir’s long-cherished dream of seamless rail connectivity has taken a significant step forward. A specially-designed Vande Bharat Express train successfully completed its maiden trial run, arriving at Srinagar Railway Station in the Nowgam area on Saturday. The train had departed from Katra in Jammu, marking a pivotal moment in the history of Indian Railways in the region.
The sleek orange-and-grey train arrived at Srinagar station at 11:30 am for a warm reception. A jubilant crowd of locals and rail officials, many carrying garlands, welcomed the train with slogans and applause, celebrating this engineering marvel. After a brief halt, the train continued to Budgam station, completing its trial journey.
Northern Railway’s Chief Area Manager (Srinagar), Saqib Yousuf, hailed the trial as a landmark achievement, calling it a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of integrating Kashmir into the national railway network. The trial aimed to assess operational performance and journey times across different track sections, ensuring the train’s readiness for passenger services.
“The successful trial run is the result of over a decade of relentless effort to complete this ambitious project,” Yousuf said.
This Vande Bharat Express is uniquely equipped to handle the challenging terrain and extreme weather conditions of Jammu and Kashmir. Key features include advanced heating systems to prevent freezing in sub-zero temperatures, embedded heating elements in windshields for clear visibility, and specialized air-brake systems for smooth operations in snowy conditions.
The train also boasts amenities typical of Vande Bharat models, such as fully air-conditioned coaches, automatic plug doors, and mobile charging sockets.
The trial run represents a significant step towards operationalizing the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which spans 272 kilometers. The project includes notable engineering feats such as the Chenab Bridge—the world’s highest railway bridge—and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge.
The Anji Khad Bridge, standing 331 meters above the riverbed, is a marvel of modern engineering. Together with the Chenab Bridge, it symbolizes the monumental effort required to connect Kashmir’s mountainous region to the national rail grid.
Tourists and locals alike are optimistic about the train’s impact. Tourists, lauded the initiative, noting its potential to boost tourism and business by providing a reliable and comfortable alternative to road travel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Express from Katra, with the date to be announced soon.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the trial run as a “dream come true,” celebrating it as a historic achievement for Jammu and Kashmir. “Congratulations to Indian Railways officials and the team working on the ground,” Sinha stated in a post on X.
As Kashmir inches closer to realizing its dream of high-speed rail connectivity, the Vande Bharat Express stands as a beacon of progress, promising enhanced mobility, economic growth, and national integration for the region.
