Rail

The Ministry of Transport is accountable for the strategy and the planning of air, road and railway transport. There are currently no functioning railroads in Afghanistan, but there are plans to construct them in the future. Constructing railroads is an important initiative for a variety of reasons. Railroads could be beneficial for Afghanistan’s economy as they would contribute to trade development and employment opportunities. They would also have a positive impact on relationships with the neighbouring countries in the region.

For more information on railroad transport, please refer to our Private Sector Department or see the webpage of the Ministry of Mines, the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Interior 

Railways Network Overview

At present, there exists only two railway links 

  1. Termez (Uzbakistan) to Hairatan (Afghanistan) in the north of Afghanistan and 
  2. Kushak (Turkmenistan) to Tourghundi (Afghanistan) – 120 km

Current Project in Progress within Afghanistan:

  • Construction of a railway link between Khawaaf (Iran) and Herat (Afghanistan) is in progress (about 124 km)

Proposed Projects

  • Kabul-Jalalabad-Torkham-Peshwar (Pakistan)
  • Kandahar–Spin Boldak-Queta (Pakistan)
  • Iran– Tajikistan – Peoples Republic of China 630-kilometre railway study estimates US$2 billion cost. Railway crosses Tajikistan border at Shirkhan Bandar  

Chinese mineral company won the Aynak copper mine tender. As part of the mineral company offer they will build a railway from Torkham (Afghanistan-Pakistan Border) upto one of the Central Asian Countries Border Crossing Poi

Proposed Afghan railway plan presented by Ministry of Public Work during CAREC 7th Ministerial Meeting in Baku.