USBRL Project: Sangaldan-Reasi Train Section Ready for Operations, world’s highest bridge, the Chenab Bridge

Sangaldan-Reasi Train: The 45-kilometer Sangaldan-Reasi Train section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is completed and prepared for operations. Officials have announced that the section is expected to be inaugurated by the Union Railway Minister by the end of September.

Completion and Inspection

A senior official at Northern Railways confirmed that Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS), Dinesh Chand Deshwal, and his team conducted a thorough three-day inspection of the new 46-kilometer Sangaldan-Reasi Train section. The section includes the world’s highest bridge, the Chenab Bridge. The track is ready for operations, and train services will be inaugurated soon.

The CRS authorization document details that the newly constructed BG line from Km 95/331.971 to Km 141/202.197 between Reasi and Sangaldan stations has been inspected multiple times by motor trolley and on foot. A speed trial with a MEMU train was conducted at a general speed of 100 km/h and a maximum speed of 113 km/h. The overall performance was satisfactory, with five peaks above 0.15g recorded during the trial.

Conditions and Safety Measures

The authorization is subject to compliance with various conditions, including speed restrictions and proper signage. Proper caution and speed indicator boards must be erected per standard guidelines. Approved systems for inspection, maintenance, and operations must be in place.

Reasi station will function as a terminal station during this phase, with safety measures and crowd control strategies implemented. Trains terminating at Reasi should be directed to Platform-1 (station building side) whenever possible.

Historical Milestone

In July, a full train crossed the Chenab River bridge for the first time. This bridge, with a central span of 467 meters and a height of 359 meters, is the world’s highest railway bridge, often referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world.”

USBRL Project Overview

The USBRL project, costing ₹1,548 crore, includes a 1.3-kilometer-long bridge that surpasses the Eiffel Tower in height by 35 meters. The project, which began construction in 2005-06, was declared a “national project” in 2002, aimed at providing seamless and hassle-free connectivity over its 272 kilometers.

Railway Electrification

The railway electrification work on this section, using a rigid overhead conductor system (ROCS) at 25 kV, is a first for Indian Railways. Officials had initially hoped to start trains, including the ‘Vande Bharat’ express, by January last year.

The completion and readiness of the Sangaldan-Reasi section mark a significant milestone in the USBRL project, promising enhanced connectivity and infrastructural development in the region.