Specially designed Vande Bharat Express reaches Srinagar after successful trial run

Srinagar: The much-anticipated trial run of the Vande Bharat Express train from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station, Katra in Jammu, to Srinagar in Kashmir was successfully completed, railway officials said on Saturday.

The one-way trial run, which began on Friday, saw the train make its way into the Jammu Division and reach Srinagar on Saturday, marking a significant step ahead of the commercial launch of the service.

The trial is part of the final phase of preparations before the official launch of the Vande Bharat Express in the Union Territory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to officially flag off the train from Katra, as the commissioner of Railway Safety has given the green signal for running the train service on the Katra-Baramulla section. However, the date of flagging off has not been announced.

Over the past month, multiple trial runs have been successfully conducted on various sections of the 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, including on India's first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge - and the world’s highest railway bridge, the iconic arch bridge over Chenab at Kauri, both in Reasi district.

Vande Bharat Express ICF rakes 49 and 80 have been nominated for commercial operation in the USBRL section. “These Vande Bharat Express trains are uniquely designed for cold conditions during the winter season with feature advanced technologies to ensure comfort, safety, and reliability,” officials said.

Vande Bharat Express train during a trial run, at a railway station in the Nowgam area of Srinagar. 

Once operational, the Vande Bharat Express is expected to revolutionize travel in Kashmir, offering faster, more efficient services that will significantly reduce travel times. This will provide a modern, high-quality travel experience for commuters, improving connectivity across the region.

With the successful completion of the trial run, railway authorities are now gearing up for the commercial operation of the Vande Bharat Express. The introduction of the train service is also seen as a key step in enhancing tourism and facilitating smoother travel for pilgrims visiting religious sites like Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.

The 272 km USBRL project, declared a National Project in March 2002, aims to establish rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country via a broad-gauge railway line, contributing to both regional development and national integration.