Vande Bharat train completes successful trial run in J&K

Indian Railways marked a significant milestone as the first Vande Bharat train successfully completed its trial run from Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station in Katra to the Kashmir Valley on Saturday. The train reached Srinagar, crossing two major engineering marvels en route.

Officials stated that the train departed Katra at 8 am and arrived in Srinagar around 11 am, passing over the Chenab Bridge — the world’s highest railway bridge — and the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.

Speaking about the successful trial, Chief Area Manager for Kashmir Northern Railways, Saqib Yousuf, said the train completed its run from Katra to Budgam smoothly.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha called it a “historic moment.” He shared on X, “A historic moment and a dream come true! Trial run of Vande Bharat Express train from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Railway Station, Katra, to Budgam has been successfully completed. Congratulations to Indian Railways officials and the team working on the ground.”

The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express has been specially designed to endure the Valley’s extreme weather conditions. With eight coaches, the train will run on the Katra-Srinagar route, and additional services may also be introduced in the future, officials said.

Railway officials highlighted that the train includes “anti-freezing” features to ensure smooth operation during harsh winters. Unlike other Vande Bharat trains running across the country, this train has been customised for Jammu and Kashmir’s challenging terrain and climate.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety recently approved the operation of train services on the Katra-Baramulla section. While the official flagging-off date has not been announced yet, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway, revealed that trials are in their final stages. “The trials are now at the last stage, and the train services are expected to start very soon,” he said.