India, Oct. 3 -- The maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal railway section has been increased from 75 kmph to 100 kmph, marking a significant operational milestone for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the development on October 2, describing the speed enhancement and successful trial as a milestone for the railway corridor.

During the trial, a Vande Bharat Express crossed the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River and India's first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji at 100 kmph. The achievement marked the first time the Vande Bharat service crossed both major bridges at the newly permitted speed.

The Ka...