A Vande Bharat Express has crossed the Chenab and Anji railway bridges at 100 kmph for the first time, marking a new operational milestone for rail connectivity to Kashmir.

The run took place on October 2 on the 111-km Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section. The maximum permissible speed on the stretch was raised from 75 kmph to 100 kmph after the Railways completed the required safety checks. Train numbers 26401 and 26404 set the record.

The Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi district is the world's highest railway arch bridge, standing 359 metres above the riverbed and stretching 1,315 metres. It is designed to withstand winds of up to 260 kmph. The Anji Khad Bridge, about 80 km from Jammu, is India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, rising 331 metres above the riverbed.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the run, calling it a historic moment and writing "100 km/h over India's engineering pride".

Both bridges are part of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, built at a cost of about Rs 43,780 crore through Himalayan terrain with 36 tunnels and 943 bridges. The section was inaugurated in June 2025, and Vande Bharat services were extended to Jammu Tawi in April 2026 with the train expanded from eight to 20 coaches.

The higher speed is expected to cut journey times and make operations smoother between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.