In a pivotal move signalling the nearing completion of a landmark national infrastructure project, Indian Railways conducted a successful trial run of a special train carrying troops on the Katra–Qazigund section in Jammu and Kashmir.
The route, which includes the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, is the final leg in connecting the Kashmir Valley with the Indian mainland by rail. The trial, operated under full security cover, was executed smoothly despite prevailing geopolitical tensions. The train departed Katra at approximately 10 am and completed its round trip to Qazigund and back by 6 pm the same day. This operational exercise not only tested route readiness but also enabled transportation for army personnel who had been stranded due to weather-related flight disruptions into the Valley.
This special service is part of a broader strategic and civil mobility blueprint that underscores the critical importance of physical connectivity to the Kashmir region. The ongoing project decades in the making has now reached its final operational phase, with regular services expected soon pending safety and administrative approvals. The Katra–Qazigund section is a defining piece of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), one of Indian Railways’ most ambitious undertakings through some of the country’s most challenging terrain. A test run of a Vande Bharat train was earlier conducted along the route, though without passengers. That trial demonstrated the readiness of the infrastructure to handle high-speed services in a region previously disconnected from India’s conventional rail grid.
The 359-metre-high Chenab Bridge, a marvel of engineering and a highlight of the USBRL project, stands as a symbol of the transformation of the region’s physical and economic landscape. The bridge alone represents a fusion of defence logistics and civil connectivity, offering secure and sustainable access to an area long reliant on limited roadways and air routes, often hampered by weather or geopolitical instability. This trial run, carried out amidst heightened security and operational challenges, sends a strong signal about India’s intent to integrate remote regions into national development pathways. It also supports the push for sustainable, carbon-reducing mobility in ecologically sensitive zones like the Himalayas, where railways provide a significantly greener alternative to road transport.
Regular passenger train operations are already functional between Qazigund and Baramulla, and with the successful testing of the Katra–Qazigund section, the full northern rail corridor is on the cusp of realisation. When fully operational, this rail link is expected to dramatically reduce travel time, boost tourism, streamline defence logistics, and improve access to social and economic services in the Valley. While the formal inauguration of the section has been postponed due to inclement weather, the completion of this trial represents a historic stride towards a fully integrated, equitable, and sustainable transport network one that brings the rest of India closer to Kashmir, both physically and symbolically.
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