Indian Railways on Wednesday reached a major milestone by successfully conducting a high-speed trial on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). The test was conducted on a challenging 180-degree climb from Katra to Banihal at an impressive speed of 110 km/hour.
The test started at Katra station at 10:30 am covering the distance to Banihal in just 1.5 hours. The return journey began at 2 pm and concluded at Katra by 3:30 pm.
Northern Railway Safety Commissioner Dinesh Chand Deswal praised the trial as a significant advancement, emphasising its importance for both technical achievement and regional integration.
As the project progresses, the ongoing analysis and upcoming decisions will play a key role in realising the goal of improved rail connectivity in the region.
This high-speed test is the final assessment of the track, paving the way for linking Kashmir by rail with the rest of India.
After the analysis of the data collected during the two-day statutory inspection, a decision on the launch of rail services along this route will be made by the central government.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had previously announced the completion of the Reasi-Katra section in December.
Initiated in 1997, the USBRL project has faced various geographical, climatic, and technical challenges that have delayed its progress. However, the successful completion of this trial brings the long-awaited vision of seamless rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India much closer.
