The speed test was carried out on October 2 after the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section was increased from 75 kmph to 100 kmph.

Sharing a post on X, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the development, calling it a historic day for the rail network in Jammu and Kashmir.

100 km/h over India’s engineering pride! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/4GlR5QJTva

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 2, 2026

Vande Bharat runs at 100 kmph

The increased speed was successfully tested using Vande Bharat Express train numbers 26401/26404. The train also crossed the Anji Bridge at 100 km/h. The Anji Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge and is another major structure on the USBRL route.

The latest speed enhancement is expected to make train operations on the Katra-Banihal section smoother and help reduce travel time. The Katra-Banihal section is an important part of the USBRL (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link) project connecting the Jammu region with the Kashmir Valley.