New Delhi, Feb 17: Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Katra is likely to chug this week.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off the first train.
The train will pass over the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest rail bridge. Operations are expected to commence on February 21 or 22. Although no official confirmation has been provided by Indian Railways or any government authority, several media outlets claim that the train will be inaugurated on those dates.
Some reports suggest that Northern Railway authorities have received verbal instructions to make preparations and restrict employee leave.
However, a fresh verbal order has now delayed the launch, with sources attributing the postponement to the government formation and swearing-in ceremony in Delhi.
This train will significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, offering passengers a comfortable and efficient journey.
Northern Railway had last month announced train timings for the Katra-Srinagar route. According to it, the Vande Bharat Express train will leave from Katra at 8.10 am and arrive in Srinagar at 11.20 am. From Srinagar, the train will leave at 8.55 am and reach Katra at 12.05 pm.
On January 24, the Vande Bharat Express connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country reached Jammu Tawi Railway Station on a trial run from Katra to Srinagar.
The semi-high-speed Vande Bharat train will run between Katra and Srinagar on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
The train will run between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) and Srinagar.
This will also be the third such train for Jammu and Kashmir, as the other two Vande Bharat trains connect Katra and New Delhi.
It will have a driver’s windshield with heating elements to prevent fogging and freezing, self-regulating heating cables to ensure water flows smoothly, heaters in the lavatories and vacuum systems to keep passengers comfortable, optimal braking performance in sub-zero temperatures, protection for the driver from impacts during extreme weather or unforeseen events, automatic plug doors, fully air-conditioned coaches, mobile charging sockets, reading lights, and CCTV cameras, wider windows with roller blinds, and overhead racks for luggage.
The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat will run on the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji Bridge will be constructed on the Chenab River in the Reasi district.
These special trains are equipped with enhanced safety features and modern passenger amenities, like a KAVACH anti-collision system, faster acceleration, fully sealed gangway, automatic plug doors, better ride comfort, mini pantry with the provision of the hot case, bottle cooler, deep freezer, and hot water boiler, reclining ergonomic seats, comfortable seating with revolving seats in executive class, mobile charging sockets for every seat and CCTVs.
These trains have been designed for extreme cold conditions and can operate in temperatures as low as minus twenty (-20) degrees Celsius, claim reports. The bio-toilets in these train rakes will have provisions to prevent water from freezing.