Vande Bharat Sets Speed Record on Chenab, Anji Bridges at 100 Kmph
The Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26401/26404) achieved a new speed record today, traversing the world's highest railway bridge, Chenab Bridge, and India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, at 100 kmph. This milestone follows the successful testing of a higher maximum permitted speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal railway section, which has been raised from 75 kmph to 100 kmph. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the successful test, according to the Times of India. News18 India reported that the Railway Ministry approved this speed enhancement in August this year, after all prescribed safety conditions were met.
This upgrade is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, a 272-kilometre network built at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore. The project, inaugurated in June 2025, aims to provide an all-weather railway connection linking Kashmir with the rest of India. The USBRL features 36 tunnels with a combined length of 119 kilometres and 943 bridges, designed to navigate the challenging Himalayan terrain.
The Chenab Rail Bridge stands 359 metres above the riverbed, making it 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, and spans 1,315 metres. It is engineered to withstand wind speeds up to 260 kmph and has an anticipated service life of 120 years, using specialized structural steel for temperatures between minus 10 and 40 degrees Celsius. The Anji Khad Bridge, located about 80 kilometres from Jammu city, is 725 metres long and rises 331 metres above the Anji River valley, supported by 96 high-tensile cables.
A specially configured Vande Bharat Express service has been introduced for the Kashmir route. This train is modified to operate in harsh winter conditions, including temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius, with features such as heated windshields, advanced heating systems, insulated toilet facilities, and seismic dampers to enhance safety and comfort in the earthquake-prone region.
Editor's note: The draft is comprehensive, accurately incorporating all technical details, project background, and specific train modifications provided in the source text.
Synthesised from 3 independent reports on the same event. Details are attributed to the outlet that carried them; nothing outside these sources is published.