KASHMIR — The 170-mile Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line was inaugurated in June 2025, providing year-round rail connectivity between Delhi and Kashmir. The Vande Bharat train operates on this network, linking Jammu and Srinagar.

The new rail line has facilitated the movement of goods and people. In 2026, 20,000 metric tons of apples were transported via the railway line, along with cars and cement. Prior to 2025, travel from Jammu to Kashmir by road relied on a single mountain highway subject to closures due to heavy precipitation, landslides, and security restrictions.

Security measures are in place along the railway line. Black-clad soldiers board the Vande Bharat train before passengers to scan coaches with handheld scanners. Soldiers and police personnel armed with automatic rifles are present on the platform at Jammu railway station before train departures. A new platform at Jammu railway station opened in April 2026. Passengers traveling from Jammu to Kashmir undergo additional security screening, including bag re-screening and identity verification, before accessing the new platform. A masked soldier stated, "This train is very special and very sensitive," adding, "We make sure it is the safest one, too."

The construction of the railway line involved engineering challenges, including workers blasting through the Pir Panjal mountain range. One tunnel on the line is nearly 8 miles long, and the Chenab Bridge rises 1,178 feet above the river. Rahul Gorka, a surgeon from Jammu, said, "The workers who spent years blasting through the region's rugged Pir Panjal mountain range are the unsung heroes of this project." He also noted, "I wouldn't have dared make this journey by road."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the railway as "a huge celebration of India's unity and India's willpower." Abdul Rasheed Mir, a resident of Qazigund, stated, "The train has brought relief." However, Mir also said, "But we cannot forget that there is conflict, and people have genuine skepticism and suspicion." The Vande Bharat train coaches feature reclining seats and large windows instead of sleeper berths.

Why It Matters

The inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line in June 2025 marks a development for transport and connectivity in the Kashmir region. The railway line provides year-round access to the region, addressing previous challenges with road transport that was vulnerable to weather and security concerns. The line also aims to integrate Kashmir more closely with India's national network, demonstrated by the freight transport activities in 2026 and the operational security measures.

The railway's development occurs in the context of historical tensions and continued security operations in Kashmir. India and Pakistan both claim the entire Kashmir region, and a U.N. ceasefire divided the area after the first India-Pakistan war. The U.N. ceasefire included a condition for the people of Kashmir to vote on their national affiliation, a vote that has not occurred. In 2019, India revoked Kashmir's limited autonomy, which was followed by a communication blackout and the detention of local political figures and journalists. New laws enacted after 2019 allowed outsiders to take up residence in Kashmir. Militants killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir in 2025.