Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the speed lift today, citing a successful Vande Bharat run that crossed the world‑record Chenab Bridge at 100 km/h.
The 111‑km Katra‑Banihal stretch, inaugurated in June 2025, is part of the 272‑km Udhampur‑Srinagar‑Baramulla Rail Link, a ₹43,780‑crore project that weaves 36 tunnels and 943 bridges through the Himalayas.
The upgraded line will reduce the Katra‑Srinagar journey from 9 to 8.5 hours, offering passengers faster, safer travel and boosting tourism and trade across Jammu & Kashmir.
Railway officials say the speed increase will be rolled out across the USBRL by July 1 , 2026, pending final safety certifications.