Watch | Indian railways conducts electric engine trial on world`s highest steel arch rail bridge

A trial of an electric engine from Sangaldan to Reasi, which involved crossing the world's highest steel arch rail bridge built over the Chenab river in Jammu & Kashmir, has been effectively carried out by the Indian Railway Ministry. "1st trial train has successfully run from Sangaldan to Reasi, including crossing the Chenab Bridge. All construction works for the USBRL are nearly finished, with only tunnel No.1 remaining partially incomplete," Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X.

The 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi stretch would be inspected over two days by Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) D C Deshwal, as the ministry gets closer to its ambitious project, an official said on Sunday. Northern Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer, Deepak Kumar, has scheduled the inspection for June 27 and 28. Kumar promised that the required tasks would be completed in time for the CRS inspection.

Since 1997, the USBRL project, which spans 272 km, has seen 209 km commissioned in phases. By the end of the year, the last 17 km from Reasi to Katra should be finished, allowing a train to finally connect Kashmir with the rest of the nation. The geology, topography and weather have presented this large-scale project with several obstacles.

According to railway sources, the first train between Sangaldan and Reasi is probably going to operate on June 30 after the successful trial of an electric engine on the route. The project's general manager, Shobhan Chaudhuri, visited the Bakkal-Duggar-Sawalkote-Sangaldan segment and the Chenab Bridge last month to evaluate several factors. Union Minister Jitendra Singh wrote on X, "The train service from #Ramban (Sangaldan) to #Reasi via the world's highest railway bridge built on river Chenab to begin soon.

The #Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (#USBRL) project will be completed by year-end." An essential component of the project is the engineering marvel that is the Chenab rail bridge, which is located 35 meters above the Eiffel Tower and 359 meters over the riverbed. The bridge will be developed as a tourism destination by the Jammu and Kashmir Administration.

(With inputs from agencies)