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{{Article for deletion/dated|page=Rail transport in Bhutan|timestamp=20260504114558|year=2026|month=May|day=4|substed=yes|help=off}}



{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
[[File:Proposed Bhutan Rail Connections.png|thumb|[[German language]] map of proposed rail lines to Bhutan]]
There is currently, and never has been any '''rail transport in Bhutan''', but several rail lines have been planned to connect Bhutan to [[Rail transport in India|India's rail network]] both historically in 2005 and in more recent years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=5 May 2026 |title=Railways in Bhutan |url=https://www.sinfin.net/railways/world/bhutan.html}}</ref><ref name="bhu1" /><ref name="bhu2" />

== Planned ==
[[Bhutan]] and [[India]] signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2005 to connect Bhutan with the [[Indian Railways]] network with 5 new routes in Bhutan.<ref name=bhu1>''[[International Railway Journal]]'' March 2005.</ref><ref name=bhu2>{{Cite web |title=Rail connectivity to Bhutan? Indian Railways submits studies for 5 links |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/rail-connectivity-to-bhutan-indian-railways-submits-studies-for-5-links/1163012/ |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=The Financial Express |date=10 May 2018 |language=en |archive-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308021338/https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/rail-connectivity-to-bhutan-indian-railways-submits-studies-for-5-links/1163012/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, the [[Indian Military]] has also identified more routes to complement the [[India-China Border Roads]] (ICBR) and negate the
[[Siliguri Corridor]]'s geostrategic vulnerability, all of which will be {{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]. In 2025, Indian authorities approved plans to build two rail lines which will incude sections within Bhutan. In total, there will be 4.5km of rail line in Bhutan if this plan is completed, with the track planned to be constructed by [[Indian Railways|Indian railways]] to a [[1675mm gauge railway|1675mm gauge]].<ref name=":0" />

''Note: Rail lines listed west to east.''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Route
! Length (km)
! Future Extensions
! Operational (date)
! Major tunnels # & names
! Major bridges # & names
! Conceived by
! Status/Comments

|-
| [[Gangtok-Nathang-Haa-Paro-Thimphu line]]
|
| {{anchor| Ext-1 }} '''Ext-1''': [[Yongphulla Airport]]-[[Bathpalathang Airport]]-[[Lingmethang]]([[Mongar]])-[[Thimphu]]-[[Paro International Airport]] line. <br>Also see [[Rail transport in Bhutan#Ext-3|Ext-3]] for Paro-Doklam-Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong connection.
| N (2027?)
|
|
| [[Indian Military]]
| [[Gangtok]]-[[Nathang]]-[[Haa, Bhutan|Haa]]-[[Paro International Airport]]-[[Thimphu]].<ref name="bhu6">[], , .</ref>

|-
| [[Banarhat–Samtse line]]
| 18 km
| {{anchor| Ext-2 }} '''Ext-2''': [[Samtse]]-[[Nathu La]] line
| N (2025?)
|
|
| 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU
| [[Banarhat]]–[[Samtse]].<ref name=bhu3>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//pointers-26.html Pointers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101101931/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//pointers-26.html |date=1 November 2019 }}. ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' March 2005.</ref><ref name=bhu2/>

|-
| [[Hasimara–Pasakha-Phuentsholing line]]
| 18 km
| {{anchor| Ext-3 }} '''Ext-3''': Phuentsholing-[[Paro International Airport]]-[[Doklam]]-[[Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong]] line.
| N (2025?)
|
|
| 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU
| [[Hasimara]] Airforce Station–[[Pasakha]]-[[Phuentsholing]]. This line has the first priority to be constructed due to high passenger and goods transportation.<ref name=bhu4>{{Cite news |title=View: Enhancing Siliguri corridor for ease of trade and transit in South Asia |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/view-enhancing-siliguri-corridor-for-ease-of-trade-and-transit-in-south-asia/articleshow/81122845.cms?from=mdr |access-date=8 March 2022 |archive-date=8 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308021339/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/view-enhancing-siliguri-corridor-for-ease-of-trade-and-transit-in-south-asia/articleshow/81122845.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=bhu2/>

|-
| [[Kokrajhar–Gelephu line]] ([[Gelephu Airport]])
| 70 km
|
| N (2025?)
|
|
| 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU
| [[Kokrajhar railway station|Kokrajhar]] of ''[[New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section]]''–[[Gelephu]].<ref name=bhu2/> survey completed in April 2023 and construction will be completed by 2026 (aug 2023 update).<ref name="lh1">[https://www.livehindustan.com/national/story-first-international-train-services-between-india-bhutan-soon-8545172.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807152303/https://www.livehindustan.com/national/story-first-international-train-services-between-india-bhutan-soon-8545172.html|date=7 August 2023}} रेल में बैठकर जा सकेंगे विदेश, 2026 तक इस खूबसूरत देश तक बिछ जाएगी पटरी, Live Hindustan, 5 aug 2023.</ref>

|-
| [[Pathsala–Naglam line]]
| 40 km
| {{anchor| Ext-4 }} '''Ext-4''': [[Nganglam|Naglam]]-[[Lingmethang]]([[Mongar]])-[[Lhuntse]]-[[Rinchen Bumpa]] line with spur to [[Trashiyangtse]] in northeast. <br>Also see [[Rail transport in Bhutan#Ext-1|Ext-1]] for connection in east to [[Yongphulla Airport]] (& [[Lumla]]-[[Tawang]]).
| N (2025?)
|
|
| 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU
| [[Pathsala]]–[[Nganglam|Naglam]].<ref name=bhu2/>

|-
| [[Rangla–Darranga–Samdrup Jongkhar line]]
| 60 km
|
| N (2025?)
|
|
| 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU
| [[Rangla]]–[[Darranga]]–[[Samdrup Jongkhar]].<ref name=bhu2/>

|-
| [[Tawang-Trashigang-Yongphulla line]]
|
| See [[Rail transport in Bhutan#Ext-1|Ext-1]] (Thimphu-Tawang).
| N (2027?)
|
|
| [[Indian Military]]
| [[Tawang]]-[[Lumla]]-[[Trashigang]]-[[Yongphulla Airport]].<ref name="bhu6"/>

|}

== See also ==

* Bhutan
** [[Transport in Bhutan]]

* Neighbourhood connectivity
** [[China–India railway]]
** [[Future of rail transport in India#Geo|Geostrategic railways under-construction in India]]
** [[India-China Border Roads|India-China Border roads and rails]]
** [[North Eastern Railway Connectivity Project]]
** [[Sivok–Rangpo_line|Rail transport in Sikkim]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Asia in topic|Rail transport in}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Bhutan| ]]

Rail transport in Bhutan - Revision history

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