Historic Rail Movement: Full Foodgrain Rake Reaches Kashmir Valley
In a significant development for Kashmir's transportation infrastructure, the first-ever full railway rake carrying foodgrains has successfully arrived in the Valley. The 42-wagon train, bearing 2,600 tonnes of rice, reached the Anantnag goods shed on Thursday, marking a new chapter in the region's freight logistics.
Transportation Milestone Achieved
Northern Railways' Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay confirmed the successful completion of this historic movement. The consignment was loaded at the Sangrur rail terminal in Punjab on January 21 and reached Anantnag in less than 24 hours, demonstrating the efficiency of the newly operational rail link.
"The unloading of rice was completed on Saturday," said Upadhyay. "The total weight of foodgrain on the train was 2,600 tonnes – equivalent to transporting 100 trucks full of rice."
Overcoming Weather Challenges
The arrival of this landmark freight train wasn't without challenges. Unloading operations faced delays due to snowfall in Kashmir on Friday, highlighting both the region's climatic conditions and the railway's commitment to all-weather transportation solutions.
Upadhyay emphasized the broader implications of this achievement: "Railways will soon be transporting other commodities, apart from cement and foodgrains, in the region. We are focusing on diversifying our freight basket."
Building on Previous Successes
This full rake movement follows earlier freight initiatives in the region. In December 2025, a mini foodgrain freight train with 21 wagons and carrying 1,384 tonnes reached the Anantnag goods terminal, marking the first bulk rail-based foodgrain supply to Kashmir via train.
The movement of freight trains to Kashmir began with the supply of 1,380 metric tonnes of cement in August 2025, responding to orders from private entities engaged in various construction projects across the region.
Strategic Coordination and Benefits
"This first ever full rake of rice movement was possible due to the coordination between the Railways, Food Corporation of India and the state administration," explained Upadhyay.
The successful transport offers multiple advantages:
- Environmental benefits through reduced reliance on heavy truck traffic via national highways
- All-weather transportation capability for essential commodities
- Enhanced food security for the Kashmir Valley population
- Economic efficiency in bulk commodity transportation
Kashmir Rail Link: An Engineering Marvel
The 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramula Rail Link (USBRL), commonly known as the Kashmir line, became fully operational on June 6, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 63-km Katra-Sangaldan section, marking the completion of a project that was first initiated 42 years ago.
This engineering marvel includes several record-breaking features:
- India's longest operational transportation tunnel (T-50) running 12.77 km
- The world's highest railway arch bridge at 359 metres above the sea floor (Chenab Bridge)
- The first cable-stayed bridge of the Railways (Anji Bridge)
Currently, Vande Bharat trains operate from Katra to Srinagar, while local trains serve the USBRL's 184-km stretch between Sangaldan in Jammu's Ramban district and Kashmir's Baramulla.
National Significance of Rail Freight
While coal accounts for more than 50% of the total freight loading of the Railways, foodgrains constitute another important bulk commodity. Their transportation supports critical sectors of the economy and ensures food security for the population.
Foodgrain transport contributes nearly 5% to the Railways' freight earnings. Of the total domestic transportation of foodgrains, over 80% is carried by the Railways, with the remaining share transported through roadways and waterways.
In the financial year 2024-25 (up to February 2025), of the total transportation of 381 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of foodgrains, almost 306 LMT was moved by the Railways, demonstrating the critical role rail transport plays in India's food distribution system.
This successful movement of a full foodgrain rake to Kashmir represents not just a transportation achievement, but a significant step toward better connectivity, economic integration, and food security for the region.
