Indian Railways Train to Kashmir Becomes A Big Hit

Srinagar, in October 11, 1998: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged off the first train service in Kashmir valley, realizing the decades old dream of the people in the region through the important project launch. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had inaugurated the 450-MW Baglihar hydro electric power project built on river Chenab in Ramban district that is in Jammu and Kashmir. Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav told reporters that the railway project will conduct prosperity in Kashmir valley. This train, which is expected to cover up over 66-km in about 1 hour and 35 minutes including stoppage time at various stations, will be run twice a day from both side.

Initially, the train will run from Rajwansher in Budgam district to Anantnag covering a distance of 66 kms, the presenter said, adding the fare for the travel will be Rs 15. The regular service of the train will start from October 12. The station between the Budgam to Srinagar route is, Pampore, Kakapora, Awantipora, Panjgam, Bijbehara and Rajwansher. This train coaches will have a seating capacity up to 90 passengers with the executive chair-car type seating arrangement and the section meant for physically challenged persons will have wider doors.

In view of the climate of the Kashmir valley, 1400 horse power diesel engine for the train has been provided with heating system for quick and danger free starting in winters. Snow cutting type cattle guard is attached at the driver's end of the train for snow clearance from tracks during frost. Feeling himself as a man walking into the history of Indian Railways and Kashmir rail project, driver of train was a happy and proud person. The driver's cab has heating and defogging unit keeping in view the cold temperature.

It is the another chapter to the history of Indian Railways and Kashmir's national rail project, as the first trial diesel mobile unit coach left for Kashmir's Budgam railway station by taking a road route and not a train track from Jammu railway station.

That was a rare feat of engineering, will become a reality as first of 24 coaches left for Budgam railway station in central Kashmir. This has made possible by replacing all 36 iron wheels of the coaches with truck tires, those truck tires having 460 HP specially designed extraordinary engine started moving up the Jammu-Srinagar highway. It seems unbelievable, but the train is moving on the highway from Jammu to Badgam through Srinagar.