J&K: Speed trial run on 180-degree gradient added new chapter in Indian Railway, says CRS

Banihal/Jammu: A new chapter was written in the Indian Railways' history with a successful rising grade speed trial in the challenging geography from Jammu and Kashmir's Katra to Banihal along the USBRL project, a top official said on Wednesday.

The remarks by the Northern Circle's Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) Dinesh Chand Deshwal offers a positive indication for an early start to direct rail services between Kashmir and rest of the country.

However, he said they would analyse the data collected after completion of the two-day statutory inspection later in the day before the Centre might take a decision to start the much-awaited service.

Talking to reporters on reaching Banihal after the successful high-speed trial run from Katra station, Deshwal said his team would return to Katra and all the collected data would be analysed before a decision was taken on the start of direct train services to Kashmir.

"The trial run at 110 kilometres per hour on the 180-degree rising grade in such a challenging geography from Katra to Banihal has written a new chapter in the history of the Railways. The trial run was smooth and filled us with a sense of fulfilment and the credit for it goes to our engineers who have done such a great work," the CRS said.

The trial train left Katra station at 10:30 am and reached Banihal station within one-and-a-half hours. The train left for Katra on its return journey at 2 pm and is expected to reach its destination by 3:30 pm.

This is the final speed trial run on the trek.

Deshwal, who reached Katra on a two-day statutory inspection of the newly completed railway line, said the Centre would take the final decision on the start of services between Kashmir and the rest of the country.

"I am not in a position to talk about it (start of services). The statutory inspection will be completed by this evening and all the gathered data analysed in accordance with guidelines of the Northern Railway," he said.

The CRS said the inspection and the trial runs on the trek had been satisfactory so far.

"Our infrastructure is outstanding and very soon a fair decision will be taken based on our report," he added.

Last month, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the completion of the Reasi-Katra section, an important development for connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country after nearly three decades of work.

On January 4, a successful trial run of an electric train was conducted on the Katra-Banihal section. The Railways have conducted six trial runs over the past month on various segments of the track, including the two major milestones of Anji Khad and Chenab bridges.

Of the total 272-kilometre Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link (USBRL) project, 209 kilometres were commissioned in phases.

Officials said the dream project to link Kashmir by train was started in 1997 and missed several deadlines due to geological, topographical and meteorological challenges.