Another successful trial run of Katra-Qazigund train

Continuing the trial run of train between Katra and Kashmir, fresh trials were conducted on Wednesday between Katra in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir, according to railway officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to J&K to flag off the first direct train to Kashmir from Katra was postponed last month.

Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay told The Tribune on Wednesday that another trial was conducted on the route.

“A train was operated from Katra to Qazigund with all precautions as part of the trials. The trial run was again successful and the train has returned to Katra,” he said.

The Railways recently marked a significant milestone after the first Vande Bharat train successfully completed its trial run from the Mata Vaishno Devi railway station in Katra to the Kashmir valley.

Officials said the date to flag off the first direct train to Kashmir from Katra was yet to be decided. “It was scheduled to start last month, but after the Pahalgam attack and subsequent Indo-Pak tensions, no date has been decided for inauguration yet,” said an official.