Indian Railways’ recent announcement of assigning the 49th Vande Bharat Express to the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in Jammu & Kashmir signifies a crucial step forward. The Northern Railway successfully conducted a 15 km trial run of the USBRL between Banihal and Khari railway stations in the Ramban district last week. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had previously announced the anticipated completion of the USBRL by December 2023 or January 2024. Once operational, a Vande Bharat metro train is slated to operate between Jammu and Srinagar.
In a noteworthy visit on March 26, Minister Vaishnaw embarked on the first run of a track-mounted trolley on the world’s highest arch bridge over the Chenab River. The iconic bridge stands at an impressive height of 359 meters from the Chenab riverbed. The minister also disclosed plans for a special training academy for engineers in Jammu and a Vande Bharat Express train maintenance facility in Budgam, Kashmir Valley.
Once the USBRL is integrated into the Indian railway network, the Jammu to Srinagar journey is expected to become faster and more comfortable, reducing travel time to approximately 3.5 hours. Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that a Vande Metro service will run between Srinagar and Jammu cities, offering efficient and scheduled train services. Additionally, the opening of the railway line is anticipated to facilitate the transportation of agricultural products, particularly apples, from Jammu and Kashmir. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project spans 272 km, connecting the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railways network. The project comprises 38 tunnels with a combined length of 119 km, including the country’s longest transportation tunnel, T-49, measuring 12.75 km. The infrastructure also features 927 bridges, among them the iconic Chenab Bridge, set to be the world’s highest railway bridge with an overall length of 1315 meters, arch span of 467 meters, and height of 359 meters above the riverbed. Additionally, the project includes the construction of Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge over Anji Khad.