Cross-border railway lines in India

Indian Railways jointly operates passenger and freight services with its neighboring countries to connect the railway network in India. Railway line construction, maintenance, border check point management is also carried out with partner railway agencies and other government agencies. Some of the railway lines & services are operational while some are non-operational or in proposal or planning stages.

India-Afghanistan

See also: International North–South Transport Corridor

While India officially considers Afghanistan a "contiguous neighbor" due to its claim over Gilgit-Baltistan (bordering the 106 km Wakhan Corridor), this territory is currently under disputed Pakistani administration, presently making a direct physical link impossible for India to build or operate.[1] There is no active or proposed railway line connecting India directly to Afghanistan through the Wakhan Corridor. Instead, India’s rail connectivity strategy for Afghanistan focuses on the following multilateral transit routes that bypass Pakistan, primarily through Iran and Central Asia.

  • Chabahar–Zahedan–Zaranj line: This serves as India's primary strategic alternative to the land route through Pakistan. India initially partnered with Iran to construct a 628 km rail line from Chabahar Port to Zahedan near the Afghan border. Following geopolitical and funding delays, Iran proceeded with independent construction; as of early 2025, the project was reported to be approximately 84% complete.[2]
  • Trans-Afghan Railway: A proposed corridor connecting Termez (Uzbekistan) to Peshawar (Pakistan) via Kabul. While India is not a primary lead, Uzbekistan has invited Indian participation to facilitate trade access to Central Asian markets.[3]
  • Khaf–Herat line: This operational 225 km line connects the Iranian rail network to Herat in western Afghanistan. In February 2025, India successfully completed its first rail transit of commercial cargo to Afghanistan using this corridor via the Iranian network.[4]

India–Bangladesh

See also: Rail transport in Bhutan

Following table lists current, historical and future routes, passenger train services and freight services:

Crossing Point (India) Crossing Point (Bangladesh) Status Current train services Historical train services Ref
Gede, West Bengal Darshana Active Maitree Express and freight trains East Bengal Express, East Bengal Mail [5]
Petrapole, West Bengal Benapole Active Bandhan Express and freight trains Barisal Express [5]
Singhabad, West Bengal Rohanpur Active Freight trains only [5]
Radhikapur, West Bengal Biral Active Freight trains only [5]
Haldibari, West Bengal Chilahati Active Mitali Express [5]
Changrabandha, West Bengal Burimari Inactive
Karimganj, Assam Kulaura Planned [6]
Mahisasan, Assam Shahabaz Pur Being restored [6]
Agartala, Tripura Akhaura Active [7]
Belonia, Tripura Feni Under construction [6]

India–Bhutan

See also: Rail transport in Bhutan

Two rail routes have been planned:[6]

Proposed Route Details
Rangiya-Darrang-Samdrup Jongkhar The total route length of 48 km is estimated to cost INR 9,010 million. The survey was completed in 2007-08 and the cost was updated in 2013–14
Kokrajhar-Gelephu The total route length of 58 km is estimated to cost INR 5,540 million. The survey was completed in 2007-08 and the cost was updated in 2013–14

India-China

See also: India–China border infrastructure and India–China Border Roads
Kunming-Kolkata line (BCIM Economic Corridor)
The most frequently discussed proposal is a high-speed link between Kunming (China) and Kolkata (India) as part of the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) which is a proposed road, rail, water and air link connecting India and China through Myanmar.[8] There is no proposal for a direct cross-border railway line between India and China due to long-standing border disputes and seurity concerns.[9] Instead, both nations are rapidly constructing extensive "strategic" rail networks on their respective sides of the Line of Actual Control.[10]

India–Myanmar

See also: Rail transport in Myanmar
Jiribam-Moreh-Tamu line
Moreh, Manipur, India – Tamu, Myanmar route is often considered as part of Trans-Asian rail connectivity. Currently India is building the Jiribam–Imphal–Moreh railway line.[11]
Aizawl-Zorinpui line to connect Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
This line is under planning.[12]

India–Nepal

See also: Rail transport in Nepal

Jaynagar–Bardibas railway line is a semi-operational line between India and Nepal. DEMU passenger service is operation on this route.

Following table lists current and future routes:

Starting Point (India) Ending Point (Nepal) Status Details Ref
Jaynagar Bardibas Active Currently active till Kurtha, Janakpur, planned extension till Bardibas in Nepal [13][14]
Raxaul Kathmandu Under Survey Crossing point Birgunj in Nepal [15]
New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal Kakarbhitta Planned [16][17]
Jogbani Biratnagar Under Construction [18][19]
Nautanwa Bhairhawa Planned [20]
Nepalgunj road, Rupaidiha Nepalgunj Planned [21]

India–Pakistan

See also: Rail transport in Pakistan

Currently two rail routes exits between India and Pakistan. However the passenger train services are cancelled until further orders. Details below:

Crossing Point (India) Crossing Point (Pakistan) Status Current train services
Atari Shyam Singh railway station Wagah railway station Inactive Samjhauta Express
Munabao railway station Zero Point railway station Inactive Thar Express

India–Sri Lanka

See also: Rail transport in Sri Lanka

Boat Mail was a passenger train service between India and Sri Lanka. However, the train currently runs till Rameswaram in India

See also

References

  1. ^ Roche, Elizabeth (2024-05-14). "Why the Chabahar port deal is a strategic win for India". Mint. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  2. ^ "Chabahar-Zahedan railway project surpasses 84% progress". Tehran Times. 2024-10-25. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  3. ^ "Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan Sign Agreement on Trans-Afghan Railway". The Astana Times. 2025-07-21. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  4. ^ "First Indian cargo shipment reaches Herat via Khaf-Herat railway". Iran Front Page. 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Starting of freight trains via restored Haldibari (India) – Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail link". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  6. ^ a b c d "Assam as India's Gateway to ASEAN" (PDF). Asian Development Bank.
  7. ^ "Rail Links with Bangladesh". www.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  8. ^ China seeks high-speed rail link between Kunming and Kolkata to revive ancient silk route, economictimes.indiatimes.com, 17 Jun2 2015.
  9. ^ Das, K. (2023-02-15). "How government is ramping up the Border Infrastructure". The Hindu. Retrieved 2025-05-15.
  10. ^ Strategic Rail Link Projects in Border Areas: Annual Progress Report 2024-25, Ministry of Railways, |access-date=2025-05-15}
  11. ^ Chatterjee, Pradyot Kumar. "Trans-Asian rail connectivity: South Asian perspective". The Pioneer. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
  12. ^ Mizoram rail expansion to link with Kaladan project, boosting Northeast connectivity: Guv, morungexpress.com, 17 March 2026.
  13. ^ "Deuba, Modi flag off Kurtha-Jayanagar railway from Delhi". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  14. ^ "India- Nepal railway service: The projects, route, cost in 10 points". The Times of India. April 1, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  15. ^ "Nepal, India sign accord on Kathmandu-Raxaul railway". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  16. ^ "India And Nepal To Speed Up Raxaul-Kathmandu Rail Project". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  17. ^ "India-Nepal to Get Closer, Thanks to New Railway Link and Inland Waterways!". The Better India. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  18. ^ "Biratnagar-Bathnah freight train to come into operational within two weeks". My Republica. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  19. ^ Shah, Narendra (2021-04-08). "IRCON invites tender for civil works at Biratnagar Station on Jogbani (India) to Biratnagar (Nepal) Railway Line". Metro Rail News. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  20. ^ "गोरखपुर से नेपाल जाना होगा आसान, सोनौली-भैरहवा रेल लाइन को मिली मंजूरी". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  21. ^ "Strengthening Indo-Nepal trade ties with improved connectivity". ThePrint. 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
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