A successful trial of the Vande Bharat express was conducted on the newly constructed Katra-Sangaldan railway link, which marked a major milestone in the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link(USBRL). The trail, conducted earlier this week, tested the trains speed, safety and route readiness ahead of the formal inauguration by PM Modi scheduled for April 19.
The Vande Bharat Express, India’s flagship semi-high-speed train, will soon operate on this newly connected stretch, offering world-class amenities and significantly reducing travel time for passengers traveling to and from the Kashmir Valley.
The USBRL project has been under development for years, involving some of the most challenging and complex railway construction work in the country. The terrain includes mountainous regions, deep gorges, and major river crossings, with the Chenab Bridge—currently the world’s highest railway bridge—being a major highlight of the route.