News Brief
Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express Train To Commence Operations Soon As Final Safety Inspection Begins On Katra-Banihal Route
Vande Bharat train.
The final safety inspection of the 111 km long Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (UBSRL) project, part of the newly constructed Jammu division, has commenced.
This section of USBRL project is crucial as it links Jammu with the Kashmir, bringing the long-pending dream of seamless rail connectivity in the Valley to reality.
With the upcoming opening of this link, the much-awaited Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is also set to begin operations soon.
Redevelopment work is underway at Jammu station, with enhancements including eight new platforms and modern facilities aimed at improving passenger experiences.
The eight-coach Vande Bharat Express will initially connect Katra and Srinagar, delivering premium services to travellers.
The Banihal-Katra section features 97 km of tunnels and spans 7 km across four significant bridges.
A key engineering highlight of the project is the 359-meter-high Chenab River arch bridge, the world’s tallest railway arch bridge, constructed using 30,000 tonnes of steel and cutting-edge rock-bolting methods.
To address safety concerns, Indian Railways engineers developed innovative tunneling techniques, known as Himalayan tunneling, to ensure the stability of the main and escape tunnels, spanning 67 km.
The tunnels incorporate ballast-less tracks, akin to metro designs, with surveillance cameras installed every 50 meters. Real-time monitoring is conducted from an advanced central control room to ensure operational security.
Over 215 km of access roads have been built alongside the rail link, enhancing connectivity and providing significant benefits to remote areas.
The Vande Bharat train set to operate on this section is specially designed for extreme weather conditions, equipped with anti-freezing features to ensure smooth operations even in temperatures as low as -20 degree Celsius.
A snow removal train will precede both passenger and freight trains, to ensure all-weather connectivity year-round.
Equipped with heated windshields, advanced heating systems, and specially designed bio-toilets, the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is uniquely suited for extreme cold conditions.
