Jammu, Aug 2026 : In a significant development for railway connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, the Vande Bharat train has, for the first time, operated at a speed of nearly 100 kmph on the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, officials said on Thursday.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal, said the speed enhancement was made possible after the Railway Ministry approved an increase in the maximum permissible speed on the newly constructed Katra-Banihal rail section.
The revised speed limit is expected to reduce travel time between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal and provide passengers with faster, safer and more comfortable journeys. Singhal said the move would also strengthen connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and contribute to tourism, trade and wider economic activity in the region.
The approval permits trains to operate at speeds of up to 100 kmph on the 111-km-long new Broad Gauge railway section between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal under the Jammu Division of Northern Railway.
Previously, the maximum permissible speed was 85 kmph on the Katra-Sangaldan section and 75 kmph on the Sangaldan-Banihal section. Northern Railway said the increase was approved only after all prescribed safety requirements and technical conditions were examined and complied with.
The speed enhancement is particularly significant because the route passes through some of the most challenging railway infrastructure in the country, including the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge.
Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the Chenab Rail Bridge is the highest railway bridge in the world and is regarded as a major achievement in modern railway engineering. The bridge rises approximately 359 metres (1,178 feet) above the Chenab River, making it around 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.
The bridge is approximately 1,315 metres long and features a massive steel-and-concrete arch structure designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including high winds, as well as strong seismic activity.
The operation of Vande Bharat at nearly 100 kmph on the bridge marks another milestone in the development of rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. The enhanced speed is expected to improve journey efficiency while making rail travel more attractive to residents, tourists and businesses.
The railway infrastructure forms part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which has been constructed to establish a reliable all-weather rail connection between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.
The newly constructed portion of the USBRL extends for around 272 km, while the overall continuous railway connection from Jammu towards Baramulla spans roughly 324 to 345 km, depending on the specific start and end junctions used for measurement.
Officials said the latest speed enhancement would further improve the operational efficiency of the network and provide an important boost to connectivity, tourism and economic activity across the region.
