On Saturday, Indian Railways completed the first test ride of the custom Vande Bharat Express train, a significant improvement in rail connectivity for Jammu and Kashmir. From Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) railway station to Srinagar railway station over the Chenab Bridge, the world&’s highest rail bridge, the train passed. It also crossed India’s first aerial-filed railway bridge, the Anji Khad.
Around 11:30 am, the train stopped briefly at Jammu, where it was hailed with slogans and compliments for the Indian Railways. It ran further to Budgam station to complete its trial.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to start off the first journey from Katra, hence the commercial launch of the Vande Bharat Express is anticipated soon. The flag-off event time, in any case, is unknown.
Watch the video here:
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: Visuals of Vande Bharat train crossing the world's highest railway bridge Chenab Rail Bridge
Indian Railways today started the trial run of the first Vande Bharat train from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station Katra to Srinagar. The train will also… pic.twitter.com/6IgVfxCgYk
— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2025
The Vande Bharat Express has many weather-dependent improvements designed particularly for the severe winter of Jammu and Kashmir. It has sophisticated heating systems not found in other Vande Bharat trains that guarantee a smooth running even in sub-zero temperatures by stopping water from freezing. Warm air for the vacuum system, bio-toilet tanks, and heating elements in the windshield for automatic defrosting guarantee proper driver visibility as well as bio-toilet tanks.
Apart from these characteristics, the train has mobile charging outlets, totally air conditioned coaches, and automatic plug doors. Marking an important turning point in the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project meant to bring the Kashmir valley into the Indian Railway network, the train shows India’s commitment to bridging geographical and economic divides, say authorities.
