Northern Railway has raised the maximum permissible speed of trains to 100 kmph on the 111-kilometre-long new Broad Gauge rail section between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal, under the Jammu Division. Previously, the permissible speed on this stretch was 85 kmph for the Katra-Sangaldan section and 75 kmph for the Sangaldan-Banihal section.
According to Northern Railway, the decision to raise the speed limit was taken only after ensuring full compliance with all prescribed safety conditions across the section.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Jammu, Uchit Singhal, said the speed increase would significantly strengthen connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir, offering passengers faster, safer and more comfortable travel. He noted that the change would not only reduce overall travel time but also help boost tourism, trade and broader economic activity in the region, while reaffirming Railways’ continued commitment to passenger safety and convenience.
With the new speed limit in place, travel time between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal is expected to reduce considerably, offering passengers a faster and safer journey on this route.
In a related development, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, virtually inaugurated the gauge-converted Kailaras-Sabalgarh-Birpur rail section in Madhya Pradesh and flagged off the extension of the Gwalior-Kailaras train service up to Birpur. This extension is expected to provide direct rail connectivity between Birpur, Vijaypur and Sabalgarh with Gwalior, offering more affordable and convenient travel options, particularly for residents of rural and tribal areas in the region.