There is norail transport in Bhutan, but several rail lines have been planned.
Bhutan andIndia signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2005 to connect Bhutan with theIndian Railways network with 5 new routes in Bhutan.[1][2] Additionally, theIndian Military has also identified more routes to complement theIndia-China Border Roads (ICBR) and negate theSiliguri Corridor's geostrategic vulnerability, all of which will be1,676 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 seeExt-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–Pasakha-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 ofNew Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section–Gelephu.[2] survey completed in April 2023 and construction will be completed by 2026 (aug 2023 update).[6] | |||
| Pathsala–Naglam line | 40 km | Ext-4:Naglam-Lingmethang(Mongar)-Lhuntse-Rinchen Bumpa line with spur toTrashiyangtse in northeast. Also seeExt-1 for connection in east toYongphulla 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 | SeeExt-1 (Thimphu-Tawang). | N (2027?) | Indian Military | Tawang-Lumla-Trashigang-Yongphulla Airport.[3] |
