CHANDIGARH: A freight train carrying cement has reached Anantnag Goods Shed in the Kashmir Valley from Rupnagar in Punjab thus connecting Kashmir to the national freight network.
The inaugural freight train covering a distance of approximately 600 kilometers was loaded with 21 BCN wagons of cement. It reached the newly commissioned Anantnag Goods Shed on Saturday in less than 18 hours.
Northern Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay said that the logistics for this groundbreaking journey were executed with precision.
"An indent was placed with Northern Railway at 23:14 hrs on August 7, with the rake placement occurring at 9:40 hrs the following day the loading was completed by 18:10 hrs on August 8, with the train departing from the Gujarat Ambuja Cement Limited (GACL) facility in Rupnagar, Punjab at 18:55 hrs. The freight was hauled by an Electric WAG-9 locomotive (Loco No. 32177, TKD, Trip 08/09), highlighting the modern capabilities of the national railway network,’’ he added.
"The arrival of this first freight train is not just a logistical achievement but a powerful symbol of progress and integration, paving the way for a more connected and prosperous Kashmir Valley,’’ said a railway official and added that the first-ever cement loading specifically for this facility, underscoring its readiness to support a new era of logistical and economic growth in the Kashmir region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the launch of freight operations to the Kashmir Valley, saying that it will enhance both progress and prosperity. `` Great day for commerce and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir! It will enhance both progress and prosperity," Modi wrote on X.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted a video of the freight train on X, saying that the launch of freight operations to the Valley will significantly reduce transportation costs, providing economic relief to citizens and businesses in the region.
`` First freight train to the Kashmir valley: – Today (9.8.2025), the first freight train reached the newly commissioned Anantnag Goods Shed in the Kashmir Valley from Punjab, marking a significant milestone in connecting the Kashmir region to the national freight network. – Transportation by the railway network will reduce the cost for our citizens living in the Kashmir valley," he wrote.
In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra to Srinagar, with the train service providing major relief for travelers.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project of a total length of 272 Km has been recently commissioned. USBRL project covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir.