The Vande Bharat Jammu-Srinagar Express added a new chapter to the history of railways on October 2, by crossing the Chenab Railway Bridge for the first time at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. During this test, the train also passed over the Anji Bridge at 100 km/h.
The Chenab Bridge is the world's highest arched railway bridge, and the Anji Bridge is India's first cable-stayed railway bridge. This marked the first instance in India where a train reached a speed of 100 km/h at such an altitude.
This achievement occurred when the railways increased the maximum permissible speed of trains on the Katra-Banihal section to 100 km/h. Because the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is running at 100 km/h, it paves the way for increasing the speed of train movement on this mountain route. Now, passenger journeys are expected to become faster and more comfortable than before.
The approximately 111-kilometer railway section of Katra-Banihal passes through mountains, including numerous tunnels and large bridges. Previously, the maximum permissible speed of trains on various parts of this route was 75 or 85 km/h. Railways have now set the maximum permissible speed to 100 km/h for the entire section. This change came into effect on October 2, after which the Vande Bharat speed test at 100 km/h was conducted.
The bridge where Vande Bharat achieved 100 km/h is not an ordinary structure. The Chenab Railway Bridge is built at an altitude of 359 meters above the bed of the Chenab River (1178 feet) and is the world's highest arched railway bridge. Its total length is about 1315 meters. This bridge is designed to accommodate complex mountainous terrain and adverse weather conditions.
The structure of the Chenab Bridge is rated for a service life of 120 years and can withstand strong winds of up to 260 km/h. Thus, the mere fact of achieving this speed on such a bridge is a major accomplishment for the railways.
During the same test, Vande Bharat crossed the Anji Bridge at 100 km/h. The Anji Bridge is India's first cable-stayed railway bridge. It is located over the deep valley of the Anji River and is an important part of the Katra-Banihal railway section. The bridge is situated approximately 331 meters (1086 feet) above the river valley and has a length of about 725 meters, supported by 96 high-strength cables.
Testing the train at 100 km/h on major bridges like the Chenab and Anji indicates that the railways are gradually moving towards increasing the speed of movement on this challenging mountain route. Passengers traveling on the Jammu-Kashmir route may benefit the most from these changes. The increased speed can make train travel on the Katra-Banihal section faster and reduce travel time.
The Jammu-Srinagar railway service initially started with an 8-car Vande Bharat. Due to growing passenger demand, the number of coaches was increased to 20 in April 2026. Currently, two Vande Bharat trains operate on this corridor. This service strengthens the direct rail link between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley via the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL).