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Silicon heating pads are added to prevent freezing of water and bio-toilet tanks, with overheat protection sensors that ensure safety and reliability. The hot water pipes are installed with self-regulating heating cables to prevent the water from freezing, ensuring efficient operation even at sub-zero temperatures.
Vande Bharat with eight coaches will run between Jammu and Srinagar and will cover the distance in three hours and ten minutes. (Courtesy photo/PTI)
Heating elements in windshields, silicon heating pads in water and bio-toilet tanks, heating pipes, and heaters in Indian toilets. This is the development of the Vande Bharat chairman train, as it will start a cross-country journey towards Kashmir soon.
Speaking to News18, an official of the railway department said that special maintenance has been done on the Vande Bharat train going to Kashmir due to the weather in the region. Changes have been made to only one rake going to Kashmir, the official said.
The Kashmir version of the Vande Bharat chairman train was unveiled as the official safety inspection of the newly constructed railway from Katra to Reasi on the Katra-Banihal section was conducted by the railway safety commissioner (northern circle) this week.
The introduction of broad gauge rail services in the Kashmir valley through the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) section marks a new era of connectivity in the region.
“The train was specially designed and made to operate seamlessly in the challenging winter conditions of the Kashmir region,” the official said.
Vande Bharat with eight coaches will run between Jammu and Srinagar and will cover the distance in three hours and ten minutes.
‘Hot’ Wheels
Silicon heating pads are added to prevent freezing of water and bio-toilet tanks, with overheat protection sensors that ensure safety and reliability.
Hot water pipes are installed with self-regulating heating cables to prevent the water from freezing, ensuring efficient operation even in sub-zero temperatures.
In addition, heaters are also installed in “Indian toilets” to provide warm air for vacuum systems and toilets, which improves passenger comfort.
Also, to prevent freezing during settling, the pipe lines are equipped with an automatic discharge mechanism.
To ensure that the air brake system works well in cold conditions, heating of the air drying system has been introduced.
In a statement, the Ministry said that due to overcoming the challenges of snow, freezing temperatures, and extreme conditions, this train ensures that the trains are not interrupted.
Trains to Kashmir
On Wednesday, speed checks were conducted in both directions between Katra and Banihal, reaching 110 km/h.
This last remaining phase of USBRL project is located in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. Its approval will ensure connectivity of Kashmir valley to rest of India through railway network.
Parts of the 111 km Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL project are already operational—Banihal to Sangaldan (48 km) and Sangaldan to Reasi (46 km). The whole part is electrified.
In total, the USBRL project is 272 km, including the 111 km Katra-Banihal section. The Katra-Banihal section passes through the small Himalayas, full of geological wonders and many problems.
This section involves a lot of tunneling—97.42 kilometers of 25 tunnels.
“About 90% of the length of the Katra-Banihal section is in the tunnel, while the length of the T-49 tunnel is 12.77 km, which will be the longest railway tunnel in the country,” he said.
The project has impressive engineering structures, including the iconic Chenab Bridge with a total length of 1,315 m, an arch span of 467 m, and a height of 359 m above the river bed. It is the highest railway bridge in the world.
This section also included the Anji Khad cable-stayed bridge, India’s first railway bridge of its kind, with a span of 473 meters and a main pin height of 193 meters.
There are seven stations in the division: Khari, Sumber, and Sangaldan in Ramban district, and Sawalkote, Dugga, Bakkal, and Reasi in Reasi district of J&K. All of these station yards are partially built inside tunnels and bridges due to space constraints.