Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat to run soon: Key features of specially designed train for freezing climate

The much-awaited Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is set to commence operations soon, with the final safety inspection of the 111-km Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project currently underway, the ministry of railways said on Wednesday.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also shared the development on social media platform X, saying, "Final stage CRS safety inspection of the USBRL Project commences for Katra-Banihal section."

The eight-coach Vande Bharat train will reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to just three hours and ten minutes.

Key features of Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat

• The train is specially designed for the region’s extreme climate.

• Anti-freezing features and advanced heating systems will enable the train to operate smoothly in temperatures as low as -20°C and ensure comfort for passengers and drivers.

• The driver's cabin has a heated windshield to prevent it from fogging up or freezing for clear visibility in extreme temperatures.

• The train also has heating elements in the plumbing and bio-toilets to prevent water from freezing, ensuring that essential systems continue to function during cold weather.

• A snow removal train, moving ahead of passenger and freight trains, will ensure that trains on this route runs throughout the year.

The USBRL project, an engineering marvel, features 97 km of tunnels and 7 km of bridges, including the world’s highest rail bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge on the Anji River. The 12.77-km T-50 tunnel, the longest on the route, is equipped with surveillance cameras every 50 meters, linked to a state-of-the-art control room.

According to the railways ministry, the toughest challenge in the USBRL project was to give foundation support to the arch bridge on the Chenab River. It was achieved by rock bolting method using 30,000 tonnes of steel. The other main challenge was to build India’s first cable-stayed bridge on Anji River.

The two other bridges on the section are the Reasi Bridge and the Bakkal Bridges.

Railways has used anti-vibration seismic devices in the project as this region falls in zone-V earthquake vulnerability.

The Jammu station is also being redeveloped with eight platforms and modern amenities to handle increased passenger traffic.