New Delhi: The first trial run on the newly completed line to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country via rail has been done successfully. According to officials, a 22-bogie train chugged between Katra and Srinagar railway stations. This was the first trial run on the new Broad Gauge line between Katra and Srinagar. It occurred just six days after Dinesh Chand Deshwal, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Northern Circle), approved the line’s opening.
Katra-Srinagar Rail Link: A Successful Trial Run
A 22-bogie train successfully completed its first trial run between Katra and Srinagar railway stations on Sunday. This marks the first time the newly completed railway line connects Kashmir to the rest of the country. The train, which had 18 AC coaches, two luggage carriers, and two engines, left Katra around 8 am and reached its destination in about four hours, with railway officials overseeing the journey.
The railway authorities sent a seven-page letter to the ministry to authorise carrying goods and passengers. This letter followed a detailed inspection of the track on January 7 and 8. The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) reviewed the newly built broad gauge line between Katra and Reasi, both by motor trolley and on foot, and conducted a speed trial from Katra to Banihal. Based on this, they allowed the section to open for regular passenger and freight traffic, with speed limits of 85 km/h on the main line and 15 km/h on turnouts.
Overcoming Challenges: Construction of the USBRL Project
The project to connect Kashmir by train began in 1997 but faced many delays due to challenges like the region’s geology and weather. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) involves a total of 272 km of track. So far, 209 km has been opened in phases. The 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section’s first phase started in October 2009. This was followed by the 18 km Banihal-Qazigund section in June 2013, the 25 km Udhampur-Katra section in July 2014, and the 48.1 km Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February last year.
The 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section was completed in June, leaving just a 17 km stretch between Reasi and Katra, which was finished in December 2024, as Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced. On January 4, an electric train ran a trial on the Katra-Banihal section. The railways have conducted six trials in the past month on different parts of the track, including the important Anji Khad and Chenab bridges.
The first trial run of the new Broad Gauge railway line connecting Kashmir to the rest of India was successfully completed. The project, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), faced numerous challenges due to the region’s difficult terrain. The successful trial paves the way for regular passenger and freight services, significantly boosting Kashmir’s connectivity. Biz News Business News – Personal Finance News, Share Market News, BSE/NSE News, Stock Exchange News Today
