As part of increasing rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Railways successfully conducted the first trial run of the specially designed Vande Bharat Express train on Saturday.
As part of increasing rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Railways on Saturday successfully conducted the first trial run of the specially designed Vande Bharat Express train. The train, running from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) railway station to Srinagar railway station, passed over the world’s highest rail bridge – the Chenab Bridge.
It also passed over the Anji Khad Bridge, the first cable-stayed railway bridge in India.
The train made a brief stop in Jammu around 11:30 am, where it was greeted with slogans and praise for Indian Railways. After this, it moved to the next Budgam station to complete its trial run.
The commercial operations of the train are set to begin soon, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to flag off the maiden journey from Katra. The date of the flag-off ceremony is yet to be announced.
Train Features
The Vande Bharat train has been designed to run smoothly in the harsh winter conditions of Jammu and Kashmir and has special weather-related features.
Compared to other Vande Bharat Express trains running in different parts of the country, the train has several additional features to meet the operational challenges and passenger needs. It includes advanced heating systems that prevent freezing of water and bio-toilet tanks, provide warm air to the vacuum system, and ensure optimum performance of the air-brake system to operate smoothly even in sub-zero temperatures.
The train also has heating elements embedded in the windshield, automatically defrosting the lookout glass in front of the driver, ensuring clear visibility in harsh winter conditions.
Apart from these, the train also has other features like fully air-conditioned coaches, automatic plug doors, and mobile charging sockets from the existing Vande Bharat trains.
According to officials, the train symbolizes India’s commitment to bridging the geographical and economic divide, PTI reported. The train is a key step towards the completion of the 272 km long USBRL (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link) project, which aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with the wider Indian railway network.
