Travel time between Katra and Srinagar will be drastically reduced to just three hours once the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is fully operational and the Vande Bharat trains begin running on this route. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the first Vande Bharat train from Katra to Kashmir on April 19.
Jammu-Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express Details
Initially, the Vande Bharat Express will commence operations from Katra, as the Jammu railway station is undergoing renovations. Officials confirm that the rail link project was completed last month.
Successful trial runs have already been conducted on the Katra-Baramulla route. The Commissioner of Railway Safety approved the train service between Katra and Kashmir in January.
The introduction of the Vande Bharat Express is expected to significantly cut down travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, offering a faster and more comfortable travel option for passengers.
During a press briefing in Jammu, Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated, “Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Udhampur on April 19, where he will visit the world’s highest railway bridge before inaugurating it. Following this, he will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.”
Train Services in Kashmir
The launch of this train service will address a long-standing demand for direct rail connectivity to Kashmir. At present, train operations are limited to the Sangaldan-Baramulla section in the Valley and Katra to other parts of the country. The ambitious rail project linking Kashmir began in 1997 but encountered multiple delays due to complex geological, topographical, and meteorological conditions.
The project consists of 38 tunnels spanning a total of 119 kilometers, including the 12.75-kilometer Tunnel T-49, the longest transportation tunnel in the country.
Additionally, the project features 927 bridges covering a combined length of 13 kilometers. Among them is the Chenab Bridge, which has a total length of 1,315 meters and an arch span of 467 meters, standing 359 meters above the riverbed. This engineering marvel, 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, is set to become the world’s highest arch railway bridge.
