<p>New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off the first train from Katra in Jammu and Srinagar in Kashmir on April 19. </p><p>With the commencement of this train, the Kashmir Valley will be directly connected to the country’s rail network. </p><p>The PM will also inaugurate the Chenab bridge in Kashmir, an engineering marvel, said the railway officials here. </p> .<p>To start with, the national transporter will operate one Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar, which will enable travellers to cover the stretch in just over three hours. Currently, it take around 6 to 7 hours. </p><p>The railways already unveiled a specially designed Vande Bharat train with anti freezing features to operate on Jammu-Srinagar route, the railways said.</p> .<p>The railway has been conducting the trial run of trains between Kashmir and Jammu for the past two months on various segments of the track, including the two major milestones of Anji Khad and Chenab bridges. </p><p>In the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, having a total 272 km long, 209 km has been commissioned.</p><p>"At present train services exist from the rest of India up to Katra, and also from Sangaldan to to Baramulla. The Katra to Sangaldan section (63 km) is ready for dedication, "said the official in the railways. </p> .<p>The dream project to link Kashmir by train was started in 1997 and missed several deadlines due to geological, topographical and meteorological challenges.</p><p>The construction of the Chenab bridge on this route across Chenab River discribed as engineering prowess.</p><p>The toughest challenge in the project was to give foundation support to World's highest arch bridge (i.e 359 m) on Chenab River. It was achieved by rock bolting method using 30,000 tonnes of steel.</p> .<p>The bridge over the Chenab river is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. The official says that construction of the bridge was challenging because the area falls in earthquake-prone region and so its design and construction were done in such a way that even if an eight-magnitude earthquake occurs it will not affect the bridge.</p><p> The other main challenge was to build India’s first cable stayed bridge on Anji River. The two other bridges on the section are Reasi Bridge and Bakkal Bridges.</p> .<p>To give passengers a comfortable & safe travel experience, the Railways has used anti-vibration seismic devices in the project as this region falls in zone-V earthquake vulnerability. These dampers will absorb the tremors in the Himalayan terrain and thus maintain faster and safer travel to the commuters.</p><p>The Vande Bharat Express running in Kashmir is different from the Vande Bharat Express running across the country. The driver's cabin features heated windshield to prevent it from fogging up or freezing, ensuring clear visibility in extreme temperatures. Further the train has heating elements in the plumbing and bio-toilets to prevent water from freezing, ensuring that essential systems continue to function during cold weather, the railways said.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to flag off the first train from Katra in Jammu and Srinagar in Kashmir on April 19. </p><p>With the commencement of this train, the Kashmir Valley will be directly connected to the country’s rail network. </p><p>The PM will also inaugurate the Chenab bridge in Kashmir, an engineering marvel, said the railway officials here. </p> .<p>To start with, the national transporter will operate one Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar, which will enable travellers to cover the stretch in just over three hours. Currently, it take around 6 to 7 hours. </p><p>The railways already unveiled a specially designed Vande Bharat train with anti freezing features to operate on Jammu-Srinagar route, the railways said.</p> .<p>The railway has been conducting the trial run of trains between Kashmir and Jammu for the past two months on various segments of the track, including the two major milestones of Anji Khad and Chenab bridges. </p><p>In the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, having a total 272 km long, 209 km has been commissioned.</p><p>"At present train services exist from the rest of India up to Katra, and also from Sangaldan to to Baramulla. The Katra to Sangaldan section (63 km) is ready for dedication, "said the official in the railways. </p> .<p>The dream project to link Kashmir by train was started in 1997 and missed several deadlines due to geological, topographical and meteorological challenges.</p><p>The construction of the Chenab bridge on this route across Chenab River discribed as engineering prowess.</p><p>The toughest challenge in the project was to give foundation support to World's highest arch bridge (i.e 359 m) on Chenab River. It was achieved by rock bolting method using 30,000 tonnes of steel.</p> .<p>The bridge over the Chenab river is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. The official says that construction of the bridge was challenging because the area falls in earthquake-prone region and so its design and construction were done in such a way that even if an eight-magnitude earthquake occurs it will not affect the bridge.</p><p> The other main challenge was to build India’s first cable stayed bridge on Anji River. The two other bridges on the section are Reasi Bridge and Bakkal Bridges.</p> .<p>To give passengers a comfortable & safe travel experience, the Railways has used anti-vibration seismic devices in the project as this region falls in zone-V earthquake vulnerability. These dampers will absorb the tremors in the Himalayan terrain and thus maintain faster and safer travel to the commuters.</p><p>The Vande Bharat Express running in Kashmir is different from the Vande Bharat Express running across the country. The driver's cabin features heated windshield to prevent it from fogging up or freezing, ensuring clear visibility in extreme temperatures. Further the train has heating elements in the plumbing and bio-toilets to prevent water from freezing, ensuring that essential systems continue to function during cold weather, the railways said.</p>
