The Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express achieved a major railway milestone with its passing the Chenab Railway Bridge and Anji Khad Bridge at 100 kmph.
The move came after Indian Railways increased the maximum permitted speed on the 111 km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section from 75 kmph to 100 kmph.
The successful speed test was conducted on October 2, when the Vande Bharat travelled at 100 kmph over the two iconic bridges on the Jammu-Srinagar rail route.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also shared a video of the train crossing the structures at the higher speed, saying it was an achievement for India's railway infrastructure.
The Chenab Railway Bridge is one of the most important engineering aspects of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). Built 359 metres above the Chenab River, it is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. It spans 1,315 metres across the river and is one of the key linkages in the rail route between Jammu and Kashmir.
The train also crossed the Anji Khad Bridge at 100 kmph. It is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge and another major element of the challenging railway alignment through the mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.
The increase in permitted speed applies to the 111-km Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL. Before the latest enhancement, various parts of the route had lower permitted speeds, such as 85 kmph between Katra and Sangaldan and 75 kmph between Sangaldan and Banihal. The higher limit was approved after the Railways completed the required safety procedures.
The speed enhancement will also make train operation on the route quicker and reduce travel times. And it is a part of the growing role of USBRL in the development of railway connections between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.
The Vande Bharat service has become an important part of this connectivity. In 2026, the service was extended to Jammu Tawi and so the rail link is far more extensive through the USBRL corridor. It takes passengers through some of the most difficult railway infrastructure in the country, including major tunnels and bridges.
The 100 kmph run across the Chenab and Anji bridges is more than a speed milestone for the Vande Bharat Express. It demonstrates the operational use of two major railway structures built as part of the Kashmir rail-link project and marks another step in the development of faster rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.
