USBRL Project: A new chapter was added to the history of Indian Railways with the successful testing of high-speed train on the geographically challenging route from Katra to Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir.
USBRL Project: A new chapter has been added to the history of Indian Railways with the successful testing of a high-speed train on the geographically challenging route from Katra to Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir. Northern Circle Railway Safety Commissioner (CRS) Dinesh Chand Deswal said this on Wednesday.
Deswal’s remarks are being considered a positive sign for the early start of direct rail services between Kashmir and the rest of the country. However, he clarified that he will analyze the data collected after the completion of the two-day statutory inspection today, only after which the Center will take any decision about starting this much-awaited rail service.
Railways will do this work before starting the train service
Speaking to reporters after the high-speed train, which departed from Katra railway station, successfully reached Banihal, Deswal said his team will return to Katra and all the collected data will be analysed before taking any decision on starting a direct train service to Kashmir.
Final stage CRS safety inspection of the USBRL Project commences for Katra-Banihal section. pic.twitter.com/tucxeLkIr3
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 8, 2025
The train ran at a speed of 110 km/h
He said, “The successful test of the train at a speed of 110 kmph on the track rising at an angle of 180 degrees in geographically challenging conditions from Katra to Banihal has added a new chapter in the history of railways. The test went smoothly. We are completely satisfied with it. The credit goes to our engineers, who have done such a great job.”
The train reached Banihal from Katra in one and a half hours
According to CRS, the test train left Katra station at 10.30 am and reached Banihal station in one and a half hours. He said that the train started its return journey to Katra at 2 pm and is expected to reach its destination by 3.30 pm. According to CRS, this is the final test on this track. Deswal, who arrived in Katra for a two-day statutory inspection of the newly constructed railway line, said that the central government will take the final decision on starting rail services between Kashmir and the rest of the country.
He said, “I am not in a position to talk about this (start of rail services). The statutory inspection will be completed by this evening and all the collected data will be analyzed as per the guidelines of Northern Railways.”
Testing was satisfactory
According to the CRS, the inspection and testing on the Katra-Banihal section so far has been satisfactory. He said that our infrastructure is excellent and a fair decision will be taken very soon based on our report.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw last month announced the completion of the Reasi-Katra section, which was seen as a significant development in connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country by rail after nearly three decades of work. On January 4, the electric train was successfully tested on the Katra-Banihal section.
Railways has conducted six tests on various sections of this route last month, including two major stops Anji Khad and Chenab Bridge. Out of the total 272 km long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, rail trials have been carried out in various phases on 209 km route.
Officials said that the ambitious project to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country by rail was started in 1997 but it faced many hurdles due to geological, topographical and meteorological challenges.
