Jammu and Kashmir Sees Major Overhaul in Rail Tracks and Coaches

SRINAGAR: The railway infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing rapid transformation with significant upgrades in track maintenance and passenger coach overhauls. The changes follow the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link, including the iconic Chenab and Anji bridges, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025. The new rail link has fundamentally altered connectivity in the region, allowing for the seamless movement of modern track maintenance machinery into the Kashmir valley for the first time.

With the regular operation of the Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar, the valley is now integrated into the broader Indian Railways network. This development has enabled the deployment of advanced tamping and ballast cleaning machines, previously inaccessible due to geographic constraints. These machines have already improved over 100 kilometres of track, enhancing safety and ensuring smoother rides for passengers.

A tamping machine deployed in early June has packed stone ballast under approximately 88 km of track, improving alignment and ride quality by enhancing the ballast cushion beneath the rails. Two ballast cleaning machines (BCMs) have deep-screened around 11.5 km of track to clean and stabilise the track bed. In July, two more BCMs were inducted and screened an additional 2.5 km of track. These machines, working in tandem, ensure that the ballast layer remains free of debris and provides optimal support to the rails.

To supplement these operations, 17 ballast rakes were dispatched from depots in Kathua, Qazigund, Madhopur and Jind, delivering 19,000 cubic metres of ballast for use across the Kashmir valley rail network. Track quality has also been scientifically assessed through Track Recording Car (TRC) runs conducted in June 2025, followed by Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) inspections in July. These diagnostic runs have identified track stretches that require further attention and maintenance.

Nationwide, Indian Railways has nearly doubled the proportion of tracks fit for speeds of 110 kmph or more, rising from 39% in 2014 to 78% by early 2025. This improvement comes despite a substantial expansion of the national rail network from 79,342 km in 2014 to over 1 lakh km in 2025.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said the government is committed to upgrading track technology and maintenance practices to improve safety and ease the workload of track maintenance staff. “We will improve the track quality by significantly upgrading the track technology and maintenance practices,” he said. The new approach includes the use of modern track fittings, ultrasound-based fracture detection, road-cum-rail vehicles, and integrated track measurement machines. Artificial intelligence will play a key role in detecting early defects and improving safety outcomes for both passengers and railway workers.

In parallel with track upgrades, the valley is witnessing a major overhaul in passenger coach maintenance. Until now, due to the absence of direct railway access, DEMU and MEMU rakes operating in Kashmir had to be transported by road trailers from Budgam to Lucknow for Periodic Overhaul (POH)—a method considered inefficient and logistically complex. For the first time, rail connectivity has allowed these rakes to be sent directly to Lucknow by train, significantly improving the maintenance cycle.

One MEMU rake has already undergone POH and is now operational in the valley, while another MEMU rake is expected to complete its overhaul by the end of July. In parallel, one DEMU rake has been overhauled at the Charbagh workshop, with another undergoing POH there, expected to be completed by mid-August. A third DEMU rake is currently being renovated at the Jalandhar shed and is slated to become operational by the end of July. Four additional DEMU rakes are also planned for upgradation at Charbagh and Jalandhar.

The upgradation of coaches includes a series of comprehensive enhancements: exterior PU painting with anti-graffiti coating in vibrant colours, installation of bio-toilets, and the addition of water-raising pumps to ensure reliable toilet function. Seats are being repaired or replaced with polycarbonate models, new standing handles are being fitted, and PVC flooring is being renewed. Stainless steel components are being buffed, windows repaired and converted to hopper-type, and the passenger address and information systems overhauled. Electrical upgrades include improved power panels with automatic changeover switches for uninterrupted water pump operation, mobile charging sockets of type A and C with overload protection, and the renewal of all lights and fans.

The extensive coach refurbishment programme is scheduled for completion by August 31, 2025. By that date, all rakes in service within the Kashmir valley will be fully upgraded, offering passengers a vastly improved travel experience.

Indian Railways, often described as the lifeline of the nation, is now playing a transformative role in Jammu and Kashmir. With the opening of the Jammu-Srinagar rail line and the sweeping upgradation of both tracks and coaches, the region is poised to experience a new era of mobility, comfort, and integration with the rest of the country