A Vande Bharat Express crossed the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji at 100 kmph on Thursday, after authorities raised the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal broad-gauge section to 100 kmph.

The speed enhancement on the Katra-Banihal section under the Jammu division of Northern Railway marks a significant operational milestone for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.

“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.

He said the Vande Bharat Express (Train Nos 26401/26404) set a new record by crossing both the world’s highest Chenab Railway Bridge and India’s first cable-stayed Anji Khad Railway Bridge at 100 kmph.

The Railway Ministry approved the speed enhancement after the Railways fulfilled all prescribed safety conditions in August this year, officials said.

Previously, trains could 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.

The 111-km Katra-Banihal section forms a crucial and technically challenging part of the USBRL project, which aims to provide seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India.

The increase in the permissible speed is expected to streamline train operations, reduce travel time and provide faster, safer and more comfortable journeys for passengers.

The Katra-Banihal section passes through some of the most difficult and rugged terrain of the Pir Panjal and lower Himalayan ranges, including deep valleys, steep mountain slopes, major rivers and complex geological formations.

The challenging terrain required extensive use of advanced engineering techniques, including long tunnels, high-level bridges and sophisticated railway infrastructure, officials said.

The section features some of India’s most challenging engineering structures, including the Chenab Railway Bridge near Reasi and the Anji Khad Railway Bridge.

The Chenab Bridge is the world’s highest railway bridge, while the Anji Khad Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. The section also includes 33 tunnels.

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