In a first, Army’s winter supplies reach Kashmir by freight train

For the first time, winter supplies for soldiers stationed in remote and high-altitude areas of Kashmir have reached the Valley via a special freight train.

The train, carrying advance winter stocking for the Army, arrived in Anantnag on September 13. The goods were then loaded onto Army trucks and transported to units stationed along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and other forward areas.

Jammu-based Defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal stated, “The Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) witnessed a historic milestone with the successful run of the first exclusive Army freight train from Bari Brahmana in Jammu to Anantnag on September 12–13.”

The freight train carried 753 metric tonnes of advance winter supplies for Army units and formations in Kashmir, marking a major shift in the Army’s logistics and winter stocking operations. “This strategic initiative underscores the Army’s ongoing capability development efforts to ensure operational preparedness in the challenging Himalayan terrain,” the spokesperson added.

In a notable demonstration of dual-use logistics and military–civil fusion, the return journey of the freight train was used to transport Kashmiri apples to markets across the rest of India.

“This step not only enhances the Army’s winter preparedness but also directly benefits local communities. Farmers, who previously suffered heavy losses due to road blockages from landslides and floods, will now be able to transport their produce smoothly, ensuring economic relief and livelihood security,” Bartwal said.

Kashmir, due to its proximity to the borders and difficult terrain, is often cut off from the rest of the country during winter, especially when the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway is blocked. This also affects supplies to Ladakh. The use of freight trains for Army logistics is expected to be a strategic game-changer.

“By harnessing rail infrastructure for both military and civilian purposes, the Army has taken a significant step toward strengthening resilience, connectivity and prosperity in the region,” the Defence spokesperson added.