Video: Vande Bharat crosses Chenab, Anji bridges at 100 kmph as speed limit rises

A Vande Bharat Express crossed the 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 marks a key operational step on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link project.

The speed enhancement on the Katra-Banihal section under the Jammu division of Northern Railway was successfully tested on Thursday. Officials said the increase is expected to make train operations smoother, reduce travel time and provide faster, safer and more comfortable journeys to passengers.

Senior 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 added the Vande Bharat Express created a new record by crossing both the world’s highest Chenab Bridge and India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge at 100 kmph.

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.

Earlier, trains were allowed to run 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 111-km Katra-Banihal stretch is a crucial and technically challenging part of the USBRL project, which aims to provide seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.

The section passes through difficult terrain in the Pir Panjal and lower Himalayan ranges, including deep valleys, steep mountain slopes, major rivers and complex geological formations.

Officials said 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.- Ends