NR FY26 overview: Connecting Kashmir rail project and services

Northern Railway’s Connecting Kashmir rail project has been positioned as the zone’s biggest achievement in FY26, marking the rail link that connects the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, as reported by RailPost.

In related coverage of Kashmir rail connectivity, Railway Supply has also followed the story around the rail link. In his 77th Republic Day address, Ashok Kumar Verma, General Manager (GM), NR, said the completion and operationalisation of “Connecting Kashmir” stands among Indian Railways’ most challenging infrastructure efforts.

Northern Railway FY26 achievements: infrastructure and assets

As part of its FY26 programme, NR commissioned the Deoband–Roorkee line and a new Yamuna bridge at Old Delhi. Electronic Interlocking was commissioned at 12 stations, and automatic signalling was introduced over 52.44 RKM. NR said the work supported increased sectional speeds over 2,008 RKM and higher loop line speeds over 1,385 Km.

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NR added that it has completed 100 per cent electrification of its existing BG network. It also said the anti-collision system Kavach was installed in 672 homed at Ghaziabad, Khanalampura at Saharanpur, diesel loco shed Tughlakabad, and Alambagh at Lucknow. Alongside this, NR commissioned a Vande Bharat maintenance shed at Varanasi and a coaching terminal at Jammu Tawi.

Train services, freight performance and Kashmir logistics

NR said it introduced 30 pairs of new trains, including 8 Vande Bharat, 1 Rajdhani, 10 Amrit Bharat and 10 others, and ran 5,183 special trains during the Diwali–Chhath festivals.

On freight operations, NR reported an average of 14.01 long-hauls per day versus 8.64 per day yoy. It also said the average speed of goods trains improved from 25.58 Kmph to 27.68 Kmph yoy. Automobile loading at GSCT Maruti Suzuki, Manesar increased from 3 to 11 rakes per day on GST relaxation.

NR said Anantnag goods shed commissioning started essential commodity transportation to Kashmir. It also ran parcel services between Budgam and Adarsh Nagar (Delhi) for perishables, including cherries and apples. Across sectors, it reported running 256 sector and commodity specific timetabled freight trains for foodgrain, export containers, automobiles and door-to-door logistics services.

Revenue, passenger amenities and safety upgrades

For April–Dec 2025, NR reported passenger earnings of ₹9,667 crore and freight revenue of ₹5,483 crore. Non-fare revenue was ₹65 crore, while ticket checking fines yielded ₹190 crore. Parcel/luggage traffic generated ₹444 crore, catering contributed ₹325 crore and MSME goods conveyance yielded ₹455 crore.

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, NR said redevelopment of 10 stations—Modinagar, Shamli, Mansa, Narwana, Jind, Muktsar, Dhampur, Anandpur Sahib, Amb Andaura and SAS Nagar (Mohali)—has been completed, with 10 more stations to be completed soon.

For background on the scheme, see the Press Information Bureau (PIB) note on the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Passenger amenities added this year included 31 FOBS, 23 high-level platforms, 14 lifts and 9 escalators.

On safety and rolling stock, NR said comprehensive overhauling of 7 Vande Bharat rakes was carried out at the train set depot, Shakurbasti, and at Rail Coach Navinikaran Karkhana (RCNK), Sonipat, with technical support from the Rolling Stock Workshop, Charbagh, Lucknow. RCNK Sonipat rolled out its 200 refurbished coach in Dec’2025.

Track and structure works listed by NR included deep screening of 618 Km track, 428 Km CTR and 510 Km TTR, alongside rehabilitation of 182 bridges and construction of boundary walls / fencing along the railway line. Over the past three years, it added, 303 LCs have been eliminated, while 104 ROBS and 339 RUBS have been commissioned.

Energy savings

NR said Hotel Load Converters were provided in 32 locomotives this year, taking the total to 271 and saving ₹295 crore on diesel. It also reported that procurement of electricity through open access saved ₹23088 crore since Oct 2017.

The zone said it is using 621 MW of renewable power and signed two new Power Purchase Agreements for 400 MW hydro and 150 MW renewables. It also commissioned 1,323 kWp solar plants at 24 railway stations and four service buildings, which are likely to generate 19.31 lakh units saving ₹1.54 crore. Scrap sales, NR said, reached ₹2392 crore till Dec 2025.

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