Fast speed electric trains would soon become a reality in Jammu & Kashmir. With the launch of rail services to Katra, base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi, in the coming month the Northern Railways is expected to start electric trains between Pathankot-Jammu section too during the same period.
On Friday, railway engineers led by Deputy Chief Electrical Engineer Neeraj Gupta supervised the successful Electric loco trials.According to sources, “A team of senior railway engineers on Friday supervised the successful Electric loco trial on 100-km-long Jammu-Pathankot section and declared it fit for CRS inspection.”
Senior railway engineers told The Pioneer that the electric trains would start running on the crucial section soon after commissioner Railway safety (CRS) would accord sanction to the rail link.CRS inspection is also pending to declare the Udhampur-Katra rail link fit for start of rail services to Katra.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the train to Katra after the CRS hands over mandatory NOC to the railway authorities.
Till now the trains on the Jammu-Pathankot section runs on diesel traction. At present the entire section is energised on 25 KV and smooth running of pantograph is being ensured through electric loco trial prior to CRS sanction.The Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Allahabad handled the electrification project.