Trial Run on World's Highest Railway Bridge by Indian Railways a Success

Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone on Thursday by conducting a trial run of an eight-coach MEMU train over the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a pivotal moment in the region's connectivity. This event signals the imminent commencement of rail services on the Reasi to Baramulla route, enhancing the integration of Kashmir with the broader Indian landscape.

The trial run, which took place on a 46-km-long electrified section between Sangaldan in Ramban district and Reasi, was executed at a speed of 40 kmph after a thorough inspection by senior officials from the Railway Board, Northern Railway, and Konkan Railway. The journey, starting at 12:35 pm from Sangaldan and concluding at 2:05 pm in Reasi, traversed through nine tunnels, cumulatively spanning 40.787 km, including the longest tunnel T-44 at 11.13 km.

This trial marked the first full train crossing over the iconic Chenab Bridge, the world's highest arch railway bridge, connecting Dugga and Bakkal stations across the Chenab river. The bridge is a marvel of modern engineering and a testament to India's infrastructure capabilities.

The electrification of this section employs state-of-the-art ROCS Rigid Overhead Conductor System at 25 kV, a first for Indian railways. The successful arrival of the MEMU train at Reasi railway station was met with enthusiastic chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" from the gathered crowd, celebrating this historic achievement.

Former sarpanch Raj Kumar Sharma highlighted the potential for rail service commencement from Reasi to Kashmir by the end of this month. He reminisced about the challenges faced two decades ago when construction began, navigating through mountains and building tunnels to make this dream a reality.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has been a monumental effort to connect Kashmir with the rest of India. Initiated with the Qazigund-Baramulla section in October 2009 under the Congress-led UPA government, it has seen several phases including the Banihal-Qazigund section in June 2013 and the Udhampur-Katra section in July 2014. The recent inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20, 2024, of the Banihal-Sangaldan section marks another leap towards completing this ambitious project.

The USBRL project is not just an engineering feat but also a strategic initiative declared as a National Project in 2002. It spans 272 km from Udhampur to Baramulla, incorporating 38 tunnels with a combined length of 119 km and 927 bridges totaling 13 km in length. Among these, the Chenab Bridge stands out with an overall length of 1315 m and a height of 359 m above the river bed, surpassing even the Eiffel Tower in height.

This bridge is poised to play a crucial role in enhancing social integration by facilitating easier movement of people and goods across Jammu and Kashmir. It promises to boost economic activities such as tourism and trade while promoting cultural exchanges and regional development. The successful trial run over Chenab Bridge is indeed a step forward in realizing seamless connectivity within this picturesque region.