The Kashmir Railway, officially known as the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), is preparing for an expansion in passenger and freight traffic following an increase in permissible train speeds. With the railway line now complete across more than 270 km, Northern Railway is exploring ways to operate more services on the line.
The Railways has raised the permissible speed to 100 kmph on most of the route, up from around 75-85 kmph earlier. The change is expected to reduce travel time between Srinagar and Jammu by up to 20 minutes, although passengers may have to wait until the revised timetable comes into effect next year to benefit from the shorter journey.
Existing train schedules will continue for now, as tickets have already been sold under the current timings. A senior railway official told Moneycontrol that the higher speed limit would improve the passenger experience.
“However, trains will continue to run on the older timetable and have longer dwell times at stations because tickets have already been sold months in advance. Once the timetable changes, trains will move faster, and there will be more services as a result,” the official added.
Railways looks to boost freight movement from Kashmir
Apart from passenger services, the Railways is looking to expand freight operations to help transport Kashmir’s horticultural produce to markets across India and overseas. Apples, walnuts, cherries, plums and saffron are among the products for which exporters are seeking more reliable transport options.
Until now, much of the produce has depended on road transport through the Jammu-Srinagar highway. To support freight movement, the Railways has built goods yards at several stations for perishable products. According to the Moneycontrol report, around 20,000 tonnes of horticultural produce have already been transported using dedicated wagons.
Vineet Abhishek, chief public relations officer of Western Railway, said Kashmiri horticultural products were reaching Mumbai within 30-33 hours of being loaded onto trains in the Valley. Faster and more dependable rail transport could help exporters move produce to distant markets while reducing their dependence on road connectivity.
The railway line passes through the difficult terrain of the Pir Panjal Range and crosses several rivers. The full USBRL route was opened in 2025 after years of work.
Vande Bharat service connects Jammu and Srinagar
The speed enhancement follows another milestone for the Kashmir Railway. On April 30, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the extended Srinagar-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express service up to Jammu Tawi Railway Station, connecting Jammu and Kashmir by passenger train for the first time directly.
Earlier, on October 2, Vaishnaw announced that the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section had been raised from 75 kmph to 100 kmph. During the speed trial, a Vande Bharat Express crossed the Chenab Bridge and Anji Bridge at 100 kmph.
100 km/h over India’s engineering pride! ???????? https://t.co/4GlR5QJTva
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 2, 2026
The enhancement will improve operational efficiency, reduce journey times and provide passengers with a faster and more comfortable travel experience.
