Ahead of the final inspection by the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) scheduled for 7 and 8 January, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar Rail Link (USBRL) project and senior officials conducted the first successful trial run of an electric train on the Katra-Banihal route on Saturday (4 January).

The length of track from Katra to Banihal is 111 km and the section includes 27 tunnels and 37 bridges; the longest rail tunnel in the country, T-49, which is 12.75 km in length, falls on this section

Indian Railways has successfully conducted a trial run on the Katra-Banihal section, which includes the iconic Chenab Bridge as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. This milestone brings the project closer to its operationalization.

Chief Administrative Officer Sandeep Gupta provided insights into the progress, stating, "This is not the first trial. On January 7 and 8, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will conduct a safety inspection.

The trial run was conducted with a focus on assessing track stability, signalling systems, safety infrastructure, and overall operational readiness.

Indian Railways has concluded a successful trial run on the Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL project, a significant step prior to the CRS inspection. This trial aims to enhance connectivity, contributing to socio-economic growth and ensuring seamless integration of the Kashmir Valley with the national railway network.