J&K witnessing rapid transformation in maintenance, upgradation of tracks & coaches

Besides Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU), Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) coaches operated in the Valley are being brought to Lucknow workshop in a time bound manner through new rail link (Jammu-Srinagar rail line) for their periodic overhauling and equipping them with latest passenger amenities.

The upgradation works of passenger coaches in the Kashmir valley, as per Railways authorities, will be completed by August 31, 2025.

All rakes in service, according to them, will be renovated and upgraded within this timeframe. Deployment of tamping, ballast cleaning machines will ensure safer, smoother rides for passengers in J&K.

New railway link (Jammu-Srinagar line) has enabled movement of track maintenance machines to the Kashmir valley. Maintenance is now being done with modern machines, unlike manual maintenance earlier. This is leading to significant improvement in track quality, officials maintain.

They point out that track upgradation in J&K is part of the process underway throughout the country as better tracks improve safety and ride quality.

By early 2025, 78 percent of India’s tracks have been upgraded to 110 kmph or more.

This number was just 39 percent in 2014. This higher proportion should be seen in light of the rise in the total length of tracks in the last decade. 

Total length of tracks has increased to over 1 lakh km in 2025 from 79,342 km in 2014.

Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw has stated that the Indian Railway will improve the track quality by significantly upgrading the track technology and maintenance practices.

Railway officials aver that with the opening of Jammu-Srinagar rail line and the ongoing upgradation works, Jammu and Kashmir will get a new lifeline.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project with Chenab and Anji bridges on June 6, 2025, thus achieving a historic milestone in establishing connectivity between the Kashmir valley and Jammu.

Vande Bharat Express train between Katra and Srinagar has become an important mode of transportation on this route.

Officials state that over and above the new train services, opening of this line has made a fundamental change in the ability to maintain rail tracks in Kashmir valley.

They inform that a tamping machine has been deployed since early June, 2025.

This machine packs the stone chips under the tracks to ensure proper alignment and stability of the tracks. It has so far tamped approximately 88 km of track in the valley.

This has improved the ballast cushion and will make the ride smooth.

Two Ballast Cleaning Machines (BCMs) have also been deployed. Ballast is the stone chip collection on tracks. It provides support to railway tracks. These machines are working in tandem and have deep-screened around 11.5 km track. Cleaner ballast leads to safer operation.

Two additional BCMs were sent to the valley in July, 2025. These machines have undertaken deep screening and have executed approximately 2.5 km of track, they point out.

To supplement the tamping and deep screening work by recoupment of ballast, 17 ballast rakes were sent and unloaded in Kashmir valley tracks from ballast depots at Kathua, Qazigund, Madhopur and Jind. Consequently, 19,000 cu m of ballasting was done.

Track Recording Car (TRC) and Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) runs were also conducted in June, 2025 and July, 2025 respectively. The track quality has been assessed and track stretches requiring attention have been identified.

Till the opening of Jammu-Srinagar rail link, there was no rail connectivity of Kashmir valley with the rest of the Indian Railway network. The DEMU and MEMU rakes in Kashmir valley could not be brought to the workshop for periodic maintenance and upgradation.

Periodic Overhauling (POH) was being done by transporting bogies from Budgam to Lucknow on road trailers. This was sub-optimal.