A significant milestone has been achieved in the history of Indian Railways with the successful completion of a high-speed trial run from Katra to Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir. This trial, conducted along the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link (USBRL) project, has raised hopes for the start of direct train services between Kashmir and the rest of India.
Dinesh Chand Deshwal, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for the Northern Circle, shared this positive news on Wednesday. He mentioned that the trial run, which reached speeds of 110 kilometers per hour on a challenging 180-degree rising grade, was smooth and successful. Deshwal praised the engineers for their hard work, stating, “This trial has written a new chapter in the history of the Railways.”
The trial train departed from Katra station at 10:30 AM and arrived at Banihal station in just one and a half hours. It then returned to Katra, expected to arrive by 3:30 PM. This trial run is the final one needed before the government can make a decision about starting regular train services to Kashmir.
Deshwal explained that his team would analyze the data collected during the two-day inspection before any decisions are made. He emphasized that the inspection process has been satisfactory so far, and the infrastructure is in excellent condition.
Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had previously announced the completion of the Reasi-Katra section, marking a significant step in connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country after nearly three decades of work. In January, a successful trial run of an electric train was also conducted on the Katra-Banihal section.
The USBRL project, which spans a total of 272 kilometers, has seen 209 kilometers commissioned in phases. This ambitious project, aimed at linking Kashmir by train, began in 1997 but faced numerous delays due to geological and weather-related challenges.
As the final inspection wraps up, the anticipation grows for the start of direct train services, which would greatly enhance connectivity for the people of Kashmir.
