These 7 Nations Have No Railways – Here’s Why

From the rugged terrain of Iceland to the island chains of the Maldives, here are seven countries that either never had railways or lost them due to various circumstances.

Did you know that some nations have never developed a railway network or have lost their existing systems over time. This is due to a variety of factors including geographic challenges, small populations, and reliance on other forms of transportation. Despite the global expansion of railway systems, these countries remain without rail networks, highlighting the unique transportation dynamics of each nation.

From the rugged terrain of Iceland to the island chains of the Maldives, here are seven countries that either never had railways or lost them due to various circumstances, offering insight into their transport systems and the reasons behind their lack of rail infrastructure.

Countries Without Railway Networks

Iceland

Iceland has never had a public railway system, despite several attempts to establish one in the past. Though there were proposals to build rail networks as early as the 1900s, these plans were abandoned due to the country’s small population, harsh weather conditions, and the dominance of automobiles. Although there were discussions in the 2000s to establish a railway in the capital, Reykjavik, the country still operates without a rail network today.

Andorra

Nestled in the Pyrenees mountains, Andorra is a small country with no railway infrastructure. While the French railway line briefly extends into Andorra for about 1.2 miles, the connection is serviced by a bus route linking the capital, Andorra-la-Vella, to the nearest train station in France. Andorra’s mountainous geography and small size make it more reliant on road transport rather than rail.

Bhutan

Bhutan, a small landlocked country in South Asia, currently has no railway system. However, there are plans to connect Bhutan’s southern region to India’s extensive railway network. An 11-mile railway line from Toribari in Nepal to Hashimara in West Bengal, India, is being developed to improve regional connectivity.

Kuwait

Kuwait, a wealthy oil-rich nation, has yet to establish a railway network. While the country’s transport infrastructure is dominated by road-based systems, Kuwait is making strides toward developing a railway system. The Gulf Railway, a proposed 1,200-mile network linking Kuwait City with Oman and other Gulf states, is currently in progress.

Maldives

Due to its nature as an island nation with a small landmass, the Maldives has no railway system. Instead, transportation is largely reliant on roads (known as magu), waterways, and air travel. The Maldives’ dispersed islands make the construction of railways impractical, and alternative transport methods suffice for the country’s needs.

Guinea-Bissau

Located in West Africa, Guinea-Bissau does not have a railway network. The country depends on road transportation in the capital and unpaved roads in rural areas. Although an agreement was signed in 1998 with Portugal to establish a railway system, the project has yet to be realized, leaving Guinea-Bissau without rail infrastructure.

Libya

Libya once had an operational railway network, but it was dismantled during the Civil War, and services ceased in 1965. Although efforts to rebuild the railway system were initiated in 2001, these plans have progressed slowly due to ongoing political instability. Projects like the proposed railway line between Ras Ajdir and Tripoli remain incomplete.

Yemen

Yemen’s lack of a railway system can be attributed to both its challenging terrain and the ongoing conflicts that have hindered infrastructure development. The country relies on its road network, although road conditions vary widely. For longer distances, air travel is often the preferred mode of transport due to the lack of a functional railway system.