Jammu: If reports that have appeared on Tuesday, Februay 11) in most digital editions of Kashmir-based newspapers and portals are to be believed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to inaugurate the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train on February 17 (Monday). Interestingly, these reports about February 17 as the date for inaugural were first given by a Kashmir-based news agency. However, there is no official word from any of the Northern Railways officials, or anyone senior in the Jammu Railway Division.
During the past few weeks, most newspapers had reported January 26 and then February 4 as dates for inauguration of train services to Kashmir. However, both these dates are gone now with no official word on the inauguration yet.
Some agency reports said that PM Modi may visit Katra to inaugurate the new train to Kashmir. Once this train starts running, it is likely that some express trains will also be introduced linking Kashmir to Katra. However, the railway officials are categorical that no direct trains linking Kashmir to Delhi are starting any time soon.
The passengers travelling from various railway stations of Kashmir to Katra will have to terminate their journeys at Katra itself. They will have to exit the Katra railway station and re-enter it to catch any other train going beyond Katra towards Udhampur and Delhi. Initially, this is the standard operating protocol (SOP) that the passengers to and from Kashmir will need to follow in view of the peculiar security situation in Jammu & Kashmir.
Incidentally, Jammu Railway Division has been carved out of Ferozepur Railway Division of the Northern Railway. It has started functioning nominally from Jammu as the Railway Board has appointed E Srinivas as the first Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Jammu Rail Division. This division was inaugurated Mr Modi on January 6 remotely and is yet to have suitable building and postings of staff for proper functioning.
The railway rake of the Vande Bharat that will run between Katra and Kashmir has been specially designed to withstand extreme cold temperatures that prevail during winters in many areas of the stretch. It has already done a couple of trial runs with senior railway officials, and at least one run where journalists were invited to take a joy ride on it on January 25!
To cope with the extreme cold conditions, with snowfall being a regular annual feature throughout Kashmir valley, this Vande Bharat train has been provided with special eatures. Unlike other Vande Bharat trains in the country, it is built to operate smoothly in temperatures as low as -20°C (minus 20 degrees Celsius). The rain comes with very advanced heating systems to ensure passenger comfort and uninterrupted operation.
It needs to be noted here that the Vande Bharat train that runs between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station will not run beyond Katra. It presently has 20 coaches in which two types of accommodation, Chair Car (CC) and Executive Class (EC), is available. Its total passenger capacity is around 1,450.
The Vande Bharat train that will play from Katra to Kashmir has only eight bogies and the total seating capacity is only around 530, almost one-third of other Vande Bharat trains. Of the eight bogies, seven will provide Chair Car (CC) and one bogie has a Executive Class (EC) configuration.
On the New Delhi-Jammu section, the speed of Vande Bharat train touches 120 km per hour on some stretches. In comparison, the Katra to Srinagar Vande Bharat train is unlikely to touch this speed on any section. The top speed on this stretch is likely to range from 80 km per hour to 90 km per hour, according to some officials, who requested anonymity.
The driver’s cabin features a heated windshield to prevent fogging or freezing, ensuring clear visibility.
Additionally, heating elements in the plumbing and bio-toilets prevent water from freezing, allowing essential systems to function even in harsh winter conditions.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is a technological marvel that includes India’s first cable-stayed Anji Khad Bridge that has a 331-metre high pylon. Another bridge in the vicinity, the Chenab Railway Bridge, is the tallest railway bridge in the world, standing 359 metres above the river bed. This bridge is also the world’s highest arch bridge.
The USBRL includes over two dozen small and large tunnels that make the journey shorter for the Vande Bharat train, which has been designed with climate-friendly technology.
Present Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was Union Railway Minister under Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, had inaugurated the work on Reasi railway station in late 2003, almost 22 years ago. However, the first tunnel that links Katra to Reasi proved to be a major challenge for the Railways and could not be completed till late 2024.
