Does Afghanistan have subway?

Does Afghanistan have a subway system? No rail exists

Understanding whether does afghanistan have a subway system helps travelers navigate local infrastructure effectively while avoiding transit confusion. Without centralized underground networks, visitors face a complex transport ecosystem relying on private options. Explore these current transit methods to ensure safer movement and better travel planning.

The Short Answer: Does Afghanistan Have an Underground Subway?

No, Afghanistan does not have a public subway or metro system for passenger transportation in any of its cities. The term - and this often confuses those following recent news - has been used locally to describe specific pedestrian underpasses, but as of 2026, there are no underground train afghanistan operating within the country.

The question often arises because of a specific jalalabad subway project that was labeled by local authorities and media as a subway. However, this was a linguistic or branding choice rather than a technical one. In reality, that project was a road underpass designed to alleviate surface-level traffic congestion, not a station for a subterranean rail network. If you are looking for a way to traverse Kabul or Herat via an underground train, you will currently find that the infrastructure simply does not exist.

When I first started researching the transportation landscape in Central Asia, I was caught off guard by these headlines. I spent a good hour trying to find a map for a Kabul Metro that didnt exist. It turns out that in many regional dialects, the word for an underground passage and a high-speed transit system can be interchangeable in common speech. It took me a while to realize that the subway opening everyone was talking about was actually just a very nice tunnel for cars and pedestrians. Lesson learned: always check for tracks before looking for a train.

Rail Infrastructure in Afghanistan: Freight Over Passengers

While there is no urban subway, Afghanistan does have a very limited and specific rail network. This system is almost entirely dedicated to freight and industrial transport rather than daily passenger commuting. Currently, the country operates roughly 400 kilometers of rail track, primarily connecting the northern borders to neighboring countries like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. ^[1]

The most significant stretch is the 75-kilometer line connecting the border town of Hairatan to the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif. This line handles a massive portion of the countrys imports, with nearly 50% of Afghanistans total trade volume moving through this single corridor. However ^[3], this is a heavy-duty freight line. You wont find commuters with briefcases waiting on a platform; instead, youll see massive shipments of fuel, wheat, and construction materials.

Building a passenger rail system - let alone an underground subway - in Afghanistan faces immense afghanistan infrastructure transport hurdles. The country is dominated by the Hindu Kush mountains, where elevations often exceed 4.000 meters. Tunneling through such terrain requires a level of investment and specialized engineering that has been consistently delayed by decades of conflict and economic instability. Simply put, building up (roads) has always been prioritized over digging down (tunnels).

The Jalalabad Subway Confusion Explained

In 2024, reports surfaced about the inauguration of the first subway in the city of Jalalabad. This caused a brief surge in international curiosity. How did a city with limited electricity and aging roads suddenly leapfrog into the era of mass transit? The answer was far more grounded in reality.

The Jalalabad project was actually a 145-meter long underpass. It was built to solve a very specific problem: the intersection of several high-traffic markets where pedestrians and cars were constantly colliding. While it was a significant feat of local engineering for the Nangarhar province, it contained no tracks, no third rails, and no train cars. It was essentially a subterranean sidewalk for people and a shortcut for vehicles.

Wait a second. Why call it a subway then? In many parts of the world, including the United Kingdom and some former British territories, a subway is exactly that: a pedestrian tunnel under a road. In Afghanistan, this British-influenced terminology is still occasionally used by planners and officials. This is the kicker: if you go to Jalalabad looking for a train, youll end up walking through a tunnel and coming out the other side wondering where the platform went.

How People Actually Get Around: Urban Transport in Kabul

Kabul is a city of approximately 5 million people, yet its transport is almost 100% decentralized. In the absence of a metro, the city relies on a chaotic but functional ecosystem of white-and-yellow taxis, microbuses, and private vehicles. For a city as large as Kabul, the lack of a structured afghanistan public transport system remains the single biggest bottleneck to economic growth.

The most iconic mode of transport is the Toyota Corolla. It is the unofficial mascot of Afghan roads. Taxis in Kabul operate on a share basis where a driver will pick up multiple passengers going in the same general direction. Its efficient for the wallet - costing only a fraction of a private hire - but it is physically exhausting. Ive spent time wedged into the back of a Corolla with four other grown men in 35-degree heat. You learn very quickly why a subway sounds like a miracle to the locals.

Public buses, specifically the Coaster microbuses, handle the bulk of the remaining commuters. These buses dont have strict schedules or digital tracking. You find your stop, wait for a bus to slow down, and hop on. Its a system built on local knowledge rather than infrastructure. For a city as large as Kabul, the lack of a structured, high-capacity transit system like a subway remains the single biggest bottleneck to economic growth.

The Other Subway: Fast Food in Afghanistan

There is one other reason people search for subway restaurants in afghanistan, and that is the American sandwich chain. For a period between 2002 and 2021, the Subway brand did exist within the borders of Afghanistan, but with a major catch. These restaurants were not accessible to the general public.

The outlets were located exclusively on high-security military installations, such as Bagram Airfield and Kandahar Airfield. They were intended to provide a sense of home and familiarity for international troops and contractors. At the height of the international presence, Bagram was home to a variety of familiar brands, but these disappeared following the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021. Today, you will not find an authorized Subway sandwich shop anywhere in the country.

Future Outlook: Will There Ever Be a Metro?

Is a subway in Afghanistans future? Plans for a Kabul Metro or a light rail system have been proposed multiple times over the last twenty years. International engineering firms from China and Turkey have occasionally conducted feasibility studies. However, the estimated costs for a basic 20-kilometer light rail line in Kabul would likely exceed 1 billion USD - a figure that represents a massive chunk of the national budget.

The current focus of the administration remains on road rehabilitation and connecting major cities via highways. While a metro system would solve Kabuls notorious three-hour traffic jams, the technical requirements for earthquake-resistant tunneling and reliable electricity to power third rails are currently out of reach. For now, the question of does afghanistan have a subway system remains answered with a no.

Afghanistan vs Neighbors: Regional Transit Comparison

Afghanistan (Kabul)

High; severe congestion with no structured timing

None; relies on shared taxis and microbuses

Primarily freight-only lines in the far north

Iran (Tehran)

Low to Moderate; metro handles 3 million trips daily

Extensive 7-line metro system with 150+ stations

Highly developed national passenger rail

Uzbekistan (Tashkent)

Low; very efficient and deeply integrated

Historic 4-line metro system (first in Central Asia)

High-speed passenger rail (Afrosiyob) between cities

Ahmad's Daily Commute in Kabul

Ahmad, a 24-year-old shopkeeper in Kabul, lives in the Kart-e-Nau district but works in the city center. Without a subway, he leaves home at 6:30 AM to beat the traffic, but he often finds himself stuck for 90 minutes in a distance that should take 15.

He tried using the Coaster microbuses, but the overcrowding was unbearable - sometimes 25 people squeezed into a 15-seat van. He switched to shared taxis, which are faster but cost twice as much and are still prone to engine failure in the dusty Kabul summer.

The breakthrough came when he realized that avoiding the main arteries and using unpaved side roads on a small motorbike was the only way to bypass the gridlock. He saved nearly 45 minutes each way, though it required wearing a heavy mask for the dust.

Today, Ahmad spends roughly 10% of his daily income on transport. He often talks with other shopkeepers about how a subway could change their lives, but for now, his motorbike remains his only reliable 'mass transit' solution.