Full Breakdown
Speed Boost on Katra-Banihal Section Marks New Operational Milestone
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Background & Context
The 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal stretch is a pivotal segment of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). Completed in June 2025, the line connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India through 36 tunnels (totaling 119 km) and 943 bridges. Two of the most prominent structures on this segment are:
- Chenab Railway Bridge – a 1,315-metre steel arch rising 359 m above the riverbed, recognised as the world’s highest railway bridge.
- Anji Khad (Anji) Bridge – India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, 725 m long and 331 m above the riverbed, supported by 96 high-tensile cables.
Both bridges were built to withstand extreme Himalayan weather, including wind speeds up to 260 km/h and temperature ranges from –10 °C to 40 °C.
Data & Statistics
- Original speed limit on the Katra-Banihal section: 75 km/h (75 km/h on Sangaldan-Banihal, 85 km/h on Katra-Sangaldan).
- New permissible speed (approved August 2024, implemented October 2 2026): 100 km/h.
- Vande Bharat Express train numbers 26401/26404 achieved the new speed while crossing both bridges.
- Chenab Bridge: 359 m above riverbed, 1,315 m span, lifespan 120 years.
- Anji Bridge: 331 m above riverbed, 725 m span, 96 cables, central pylon 193 m high.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Approval has been given to increase the speed of trains to 100 kmph on the Banihal to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra rail section. No train has been operated at a speed of 100 kmph as of now,” — Northern Railway
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Several outlets reported that a Vande Bharat train had already crossed the Chenab Bridge at roughly 100 km/h before the October 2 test. Northern Railway’s August 20 clarification contradicts those claims, stating that no train had operated at the new speed until the official trial. The discrepancy highlights a gap in real-time reporting of operational milestones on the USBRL.
What’s Next
The Railway Ministry has indicated that the Katra-Banihal speed enhancement is part of a broader programme to raise sectional speeds across the Indian Railways network, though specific future dates were not disclosed. Continued monitoring of travel-time reductions and passenger experience on the USBRL is expected as additional speed upgrades are evaluated.