The Vande Bharat Express has crossed the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji at 100 kmph, following an increase in the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km-long Katra-Banihal broad-gauge rail section.

The speed enhancement on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section, under the Jammu division of Northern Railway, was successfully tested on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The development marks an operational milestone for the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link project.

Train No. 26401/26404 created the record while traversing both major bridges, officials said. The speed limit for the section has been raised from 75 kmph to 100 kmph, according to Uchit Singhal, senior divisional commercial manager of the Jammu division of Northern Railway.

The Chenab Bridge, located in Reasi district, is recognised as the world’s highest railway bridge. The Anji Bridge, also in the region, is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge and forms part of the rail connectivity being developed through the challenging Himalayan terrain.

The Katra-Banihal section is a key component of the USBRL project, which is intended to improve rail connectivity between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley. The successful speed test indicates that the section can support faster train operations while retaining its role as an important link in the wider railway network.