Railways: Vande Bharat for J&K designed to ply even at -20°C
With the Railways all set to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country through a rail link, the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat train, which will ply on the route, has been designed keeping the Valley’s extreme weather conditions in mind.
Railway officials say the train has been designed with “anti-freezing” features. The Vande Bharat Express that will run here will be different from the Vande Bharat trains running across the country, they say.
They say that it is specially designed to operate smoothly in even in temperature as low as -20°C. Listing several features of the train, the Railways said the train was equipped with advanced heating systems to ensure comfort for passengers and drivers.
“The driver’s cabin features a heated windshield to prevent it from fogging up or freezing, ensuring clear visibility in extreme temperatures,” say the officials.
The train has also been fitted with heating elements in the plumbing and bio-toilets to prevent “water from freezing”, and ensuring that essential systems continue to function during cold weather.
There will be eight coaches in the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar.
The officials say there are plans to operate other trains as well besides the Vande Bharat trains.
The Northern Circle Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) on Wednesday had conducted a successful speed trial on the Katra-Banihal rail route paving the way for the first train to start operations soon.
According to the officials, the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, which right now takes five to six hours by road, will be reduced to three hours and 10 minutes with the introduction of the train.
Currently, rail services operate between Sangaldan in Jammu’s Ramban district and Baramulla in Kashmir. The track between Sangaldan and Reasi is also ready for train operations. With the completion of the 17-km Reasi-Katra section, the rail service from Udhampur to Baramulla is set to become a reality.
Officials said the toughest challenge was to give foundation support to the world’s highest arch bridge (359 m) on the Chenab. It was achieved by a rock bolting method, using 30,000 tonnes of steel. The other challenge was to build India’s first cable-stayed bridge on Anji river. The two other bridges on the section are Reasi and Bakkal bridges.
