Vande Bharat crosses Chenab, Anji bridges at 100 kmph as speed limit rises

Railways has raised the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal broad-gauge section to 100 kmph, with a Vande Bharat Express crossing two landmark bridges at the enhanced speed.

The train crossed the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji during the speed enhancement test.

Speed limit raised from 75 kmph

The speed enhancement on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section under the Jammu division of Northern Railway was successfully tested on Thursday (October 1, 2026), officials said.

“The maximum permissible speed on the 111-km-long Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section has been increased from 75 kmph to 100 kmph,” senior divisional commercial manager Uchit Singhal said.

The Vande Bharat Express, identified as Train No. 26401/26404, created a new record by crossing both the Chenab Bridge and the Anji Bridge at 100 kmph, Singhal said.

The Railway Ministry approved the increase after all prescribed safety conditions were complied with by the Railways in August this year, officials said.

Before the latest enhancement, trains were permitted to operate at a maximum speed of 85 kmph on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Sangaldan section and 75 kmph on the Sangaldan-Banihal section.

Key section of the USBRL project

The 111-km Katra-Banihal section is a crucial and technically challenging component of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link project.

The USBRL project is aimed at providing seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.

The section runs through some of the most difficult and rugged terrain of the Pir Panjal and lower Himalayan ranges.

It includes deep valleys, steep mountain slopes, major rivers and highly complex geological formations, officials said.

Because of the terrain, construction of the line required extensive use of advanced engineering techniques, including long tunnels, high-level bridges and sophisticated railway infrastructure.

The section includes 33 tunnels and some of the country’s most prestigious and challenging engineering structures.

Faster journeys expected

Among the major structures are the Chenab Railway Bridge, described as the world’s highest railway bridge, constructed over the Chenab River near Reasi.

The section also includes the Anji Khad Railway Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.

The increase in the permissible speed is expected to make train operations on the USBRL project smoother and reduce travel time.

Officials also said the enhancement is expected to provide faster, safer and more comfortable journeys to passengers.

Travel time between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal is also expected to come down, providing faster and more comfortable rail connectivity in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on June 6, 2025.

Source: The Hindu