In a historic milestone, a Vande Bharat Express crossed the world’s highest Chenab railway bridge and the Anji Khad railway bridge at 100 kmph after the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal broad-gauge section was raised to 100 kmph, officials said. The move highlights a key operational step on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link project. The development comes a year after its inauguration in 2025.

The launch marked the completion of an all-weather railway network connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country. The speed enhancement on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section under the Jammu division of Northern Railway was successfully tested on Thursday, marking a significant operational milestone for the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.

Reacting to the historic firstSenior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said, "The maximum permissible speed on the 111-km-long Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section has been increased from 75 kmph to 100 kmph." He claimed that the Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26401/26404) created a new record by crossing both the world's highest Chenab Bridge and India's first cable-stayed Anji Bridge at 100 kmph.

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The 111-km Katra-Banihal section is a critical and technically challenging component of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, aimed at connecting Kashmir with the rest of India.

Railways Approved Speed Limit This Year

The Railway Ministry approved the enhancement in the maximum permissible speed to 100 kmph after all prescribed safety conditions were complied with by the Railways in August this year, officials said. Previously, trains were mandated to operate at a maximum speed of 85 kmph on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Sangaldan section and 75 kmph on the Sangaldan-Banihal section.

The increase in the permissible speed is likely to make train operations on the USBRL project seamless, cutting travel time and provide faster, safer and more comfortable journeys to passengers. With the enhancement, travel time between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal is also expected to come down, providing faster and more comfortable rail connectivity in the region.

The Katra-Banihal section passes through some of the most difficult and rugged terrain of the Pir Panjal and lower Himalayan ranges, including deep valleys, steep mountain slopes, major rivers and highly complex geological formations.

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The construction of the line has therefore required extensive use of advanced engineering techniques, including long tunnels, high-level bridges and sophisticated railway infrastructure, officials said.

According to officials, the line required extensive use of advanced engineering techniques, including long tunnels, high-level bridges and sophisticated railway infrastructure. The section includes 33 tunnels, the Chenab Railway Bridge over the Chenab River near Reasi, and the Anji Khad Railway Bridge.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on June 6, 2025. With the latest speed enhancement, the Katra-Banihal section is expected to support faster travel and smoother operations on a key stretch of the USBRL project.