Rail transport in Bhutan

There is no rail transport in Bhutan.

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,[1][2] additionally Indian Military has also identified more routes to compliment India-China Border Roads (ICBR) & negate Siliguri Corridor geostrategic vulnerability, all of which will be built in 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge.

Note: Rail lines listed west to east.

Route Length (km) Future Extensions Operational (date) Major tunnels # & names Major bridges # & names Conceived by Status/Comments


Gangtok-Nathang-Haa-Paro-Thimphu line Ext-1: Yongphulla Airport-Bathpalathang Airport-Lingmethang(Mongar)-Thimphu-Paro International Airport line.
Also see Ext-3 for Paro-Doklam-Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong connection.		 N (2027?) Indian Military Gangtok-Nathang-Haa-Paro International Airport-Thimphu.[3]


Banarhat–Samtse line 18 km Ext-2: Samtse-Nathu La line N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Banarhat–Samtse.[4] [2]


Hasimara–Pasakh-Phuentsholing line 18 km 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.[5][2]
Kokrajhar–Gelephu line (Gelephu Airport) 70 km N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Kokrajhar of New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section–Gelephu.[2]
Pathsala–Naglam line 40 km Ext-4: Naglam-Lingmethang(Mongar)-Lhuntse-Rinchen Bumpa line with spur to Trashiyangtse in northeast.
Also see Ext-1 for connection in east to Yongphulla Airport (& Lumla-Tawang).		 N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Pathsala–Naglam.[2]


Rangla–Darranga–Samdrup Jongkhar line 60 km N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Rangla–Darranga–Samdrup Jongkhar.[2]


Tawang-Trashigang-Yongphulla line See Ext-1 (Thimphu-Tawang). N (2027?) Indian Military Tawang-Lumla-Trashigang-Yongphulla Airport.[6]

See also

References
  1. International Railway Journal March 2005.
  2. "Rail connectivity to Bhutan? Indian Railways submits studies for 5 links". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  3. [], , .
  4. Pointers. Railway Gazette International March 2005.
  5. "View: Enhancing Siliguri corridor for ease of trade and transit in South Asia". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  6. [], , .
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