Vande Bharat crosses Chenab, Anji bridges at 100 km/h as Katra-Banihal speed limit raised
Ferozepur, October 2, 2026: Indian Railways has raised the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section from 75 km/h to 100 km/h, marking a significant operational milestone for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
The enhanced speed was successfully tested on Friday with Vande Bharat Express trains 26401/26404. During the trial, the train crossed the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji, at 100 km/h.
On X, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the development as a historic milestone and shared a video of the Vande Bharat running at 100 km/h over the two major engineering structures.
The Chenab Rail Bridge stands 359 metres above the riverbed and spans 1,315 metres, while the Anji Bridge rises 331 metres above the riverbed and extends 725 metres across the valley. Both are key structures on the USBRL route.
The Katra-Banihal section is an important link between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley. The increase in permissible speed is expected to improve train operations, reduce travel time on the section and provide faster and more comfortable journeys for passengers.)
The speed enhancement follows the Railways' clearance after the required safety conditions were met. Earlier, the permitted speed was 85 km/h between Katra and Sangaldan and 75 km/h between Sangaldan and Banihal.