Kashmir maiden electric train likely to be inaugurated on Oct 02: Officials

Srinagar, Sept 27: Kashmir is all set to get its first electric train on October 02 and its successful trial was conducted on Sunday, officials said.
Chief Area Manager (CAM) Kashmir, Saqib Yousuf Yatoo (IRTS) told Rising Kashmir that railways have conducted a successful trial of the electric train as electrification work was completed last week.
“Kashmir will get its first electric train soon and for that all arrangements are being finalized,” he said.
Sakib said the electric train would be environment friendly and will reduce pollution. It would be faster than diesel engines and other benefits, he added.
While Additional General Manager (AGM) at IRCON International Abid Shah said under the supervision of Principal Chief Electrical Engineer (PCEE) Northern Railways, Pramod Kumar, a successful trial of electric train was conducted between the Baramulla-Banihal train corridor.
Shah added that the electric train will be inaugurated on October 02. It will be flagged off by the Railway Minister of India or any high-profile minister from the central government.
“All arrangements are being finalized for the mega event. It will be the historic day for railways in Kashmir,” he said.
The total route length for electrification is 137.73 kilometers with three main sub-stations of Qazigund, Budgam, and Baramulla from where power will be supplied to the overhead equipment of the rail line. The total cost of the project is Rs 324 crores.
Shah said the Qazigund-Banihal railways tunnel (T-80) has become the longest tunnel in India to be electrified by the railways.
This tunnel is 11.215 kilometers (6.969 mi) long railway tunnel and is located in Pir Panjal Range of the middle Himalayas in Qazigund town.
At present 19 train services with seven trains chug regularly on Baramulla- Banihal sector in J&K.
About 30,000 passengers including students and office goers travel in the trains every day.
Kashmir got its first train service in 2013 and it was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway (USBRL) railway track is being laid to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Firozpur Railway division of Indian Railways’ Northern zone.
The 359 m (1,178 ft) tall Chenab Bridge lies on this line, which once completed will be the tallest railway bridge in the world.