India Launches First Jammu-Srinagar Direct Train

India launched its first direct train service between Jammu and Srinagar on what Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called a historic day, completing a rail link through some of the highest and most difficult terrain the country's railway network has tackled. Vaishnaw described it as India's first experience with railway operations at such high altitudes and said the route would be a gamechanger for the region's economy. The Jammu-Srinagar rail corridor runs through the Himalayas and required decades of tunneling and bridge construction across challenging mountain geography, including the world-famous Chenab Bridge. A direct rail connection cuts travel time, lowers freight costs, and gives Kashmir a reliable all-weather surface link to the rest of India for the first time. The route is expected to reduce dependence on road transport, which is frequently disrupted by landslides and harsh winters. Goods, tourism, and daily commuters stand to benefit most. How quickly freight and passenger volumes ramp up will be the clearest test of the line's economic impact on the region.