Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch its first train this week from Katra in Jamu and Srinagar in Kashmir.
The Indian Railways will launch the long-awaited Vande Bharat train between Jamu and Srinagar on April 19. This orange and grey semi-high speed train will extend between the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) and Srinagar. The Northern Railway (NR) district will operate and maintain trains, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi opening its first service this week from Katra in Srinagar, Kashmir and Jammu.
Initially, there was only one train on the route, allowing passengers to travel in just over three hours – much faster than the current six to seven-hour travel time.
The train will run along Udhampur -Srinagar -Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), passing through the stunning landscape of tunnels and bridges in the mountains. The route consists of 36 major tunnels covering about 119 kilometers of 272 kilometers.
Tunnel T-50, India’s longest transport tunnel connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country. It is built using a new tunneling method through challenging rock formations such as plants, gneiss and quartzite. The main tunnel is connected to the escape tunnel through a 375-meter-spaced cross tunnel.
Construction faces many challenges, including landslides, moisture intrusion and unstable rocks. Engineers built three access tunnels to speed up excavation and development, overcoming these difficulties with perseverance and advanced technology.
Tunnel T-80 (11.2 km): Below the Pir Panjal series, this tunnel avoids snow-covered mountain passes, providing Kashmir with all-weather access.
Tunnel T-34 (5.1 km): Link to Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable railway bridge.
Tunnel T-33 (3.2 km): The tunnel was built under Trikuta Hills and was completed in 2023 using advanced tunneling technology.
Tunnel T-23 (3.15 km) and T-1 (3.2 km): Both require precise engineering to deal with moisture intrusion and unstable rocks.
Tunnel T-25 (3 km): It has been constructed for six years due to groundwater flow, thus pushing the limits of tunnel engineering.
Trials on several USBRL sections, including the iconic Chenab and Anji Khad Bridges, have been completed in recent months.
