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ShareJAMMU: Amidst showering of flower petals, the first-ever train from Jammu Railway Station to Kashmir valley was flagged off on Monday, which would run on the road with the help of 36 truck wheels fitted to it.
The Diesel Mobile Unit (DMU) train started at around 2.30pm and after travelling a distance of one kilometre was halted for its onwards run on the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Tuesday morning.
"This is a new chapter in the history of Indian Railways as the first trial DMU coach left from Jammu Railway Station by taking a road route and not a train track to Kashmir," said Shiv Ram, Divisional Mechanical Engineer, Northern Railway.
Soon after the 36-wheeled train pulled by 460-horse power special engine drove out, Ram said "it sounds incredible, but the train will run on the highway from Jammu to Budgam via Srinagar."
"It is for first time in the history of Indian Railways that DMU is running on road," he said.
"The only difference is that this train is equipped not with normal iron wheels but with special truck tyres," Ram said.
Hundreds of people who came to watch this unique spectacle stood dumbfounded.
The engineering marvel had been made possible by replacing iron wheels of the train, which would be pulled by a trailer-truck having the specially designed engine.
Feeling himself as a man walking into the history, driver Joginder Singh said he was happy.
A leading transport company had been given the job of transporting 24 wagons and two engines.
"If the trial run succeeds for which an old coach is being used, the firm will get the contract for carrying the coaches," said Project Manager of the firm, IBC, Fransis Javir.
