India’s First Vertical Lift Bridge Speed Trials Success, Set To Open Next Month Near Rameswaram

The new Pamban sea bridge showcased its strength and engineering precision in a successful Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) engine run on Thursday (7 November).

During the trial, speeds reached up to 121 km per hour on the Mandapam-Rameswaram section and 80 km per hour on the bridge itself, underscoring its readiness to handle high-speed rail traffic.

The trial involved a freight train with three coaches and marked a major milestone for India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, which spans the Palk Strait, connecting Mandapam and Pamban railway stations.

The bridge will be around 2.2 km long and will connect Mandapam town in mainland India to Pamban Island and Rameswaram. It will replace the existing century-old iconic structure built during British rule.

India's first vertical-lift railway sea bridge, a modern engineering marvel, promises to redefine connectivity and maritime navigation in the area. It is being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

The 72.5-metre-long vertical single lift span is designed to move up and down, allowing ships to pass under the bridge.

The test was attended by senior railway officials, including LN Rao, Additional Divisional Railway Manager of Madurai Division, and Sandeep Bhaskar, Divisional Engineer (North), who observed the trial firsthand, reports dtnext.

Southern Railway has been conducting various trials to test the bridge’s resilience and the functionality of its central lift span. RN Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, inspected the bridge on 22 October and indicated that it could be commissioned as early as November.

Additionally, a statutory inspection of the bridge by AM Chowdhary, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, is scheduled for 13 November.

The inspection will include assessments of the new broad-gauge track alignment between Mandapam and Pamban stations. Another high-speed trial, including tests of the lift span’s locking and centering mechanisms, is slated for 14 November, bringing the bridge closer to full operational status.

This railway bridge holds great significance as it connects the mainland to Rameswaram, a historic south Indian town and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, along with Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, and Puri in the east.