Which country has no railway track?

Which Countries Have No Railway Track? A Global Overview

When considering which country has no railway track, several nations operate without a national railway network, most notably Iceland, Bhutan, Kuwait, and Rwanda. These nations manage transportation through extensive road networks and domestic flights. While many lack trains due to geography or cost, countries like Kuwait and Oman are actively building systems scheduled for completion by 2028-2030.

Which country has no railway track? An overview of nations without trains

Believe it or not, several countries without trains operate completely without a national railway network. The most prominent examples include Iceland, Bhutan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Libya, Niger, Rwanda, and Papua New Guinea. While these nations lack public train systems, each has unique reasons—from rugged terrain and small populations to recent conflict or heavy reliance on road and air travel.

But theres a common misconception that all developed countries must have railways. Thats simply not true. Ill explain the fascinating reasons behind which country has no railway track in the sections below, including how they manage transportation without a single train track.

Iceland: Europe's largest country with no railway

If you wonder why does Iceland have no railway, it is the largest European country without any public railway. Despite covering 39,769 square miles, the nations population hovers around 375,000 people, most living in and around Reykjavik. The combination of low population density and extremely rugged volcanic terrain makes railway construction financially unviable.

The terrain is brutal. Were talking active volcanoes, massive glaciers, frequent earthquakes, and rivers that change course seasonally. Building tracks across that would cost billions. Iceland has never had a permanent railway network, though a few temporary industrial lines were built for hydropower projects decades ago. Instead, locals rely on an extensive road network and domestic flights.

Why Iceland's population density makes trains impractical

Lets do quick math. Building a railway from Reykjavik to Akureyri would cost roughly $1-2 billion. Thats $5,000-10,000 per resident—just for one line. The per-capita cost is simply too high for such a small population spread across challenging terrain. Most Icelanders own cars anyway, and the Ring Road serves the country well enough.

Ill be honest: when I first learned Iceland had no trains, I was shocked. How does a wealthy European nation function without them? But after visiting, it made sense. Everyone drives. The roads are well-maintained, and domestic flights connect remote areas. Adding trains would just duplicate existing infrastructure at enormous expense.

Bhutan: No railway due to extreme Himalayan terrain

Bhutan currently has no railway network whatsoever. The transportation in Bhutan without trains is limited because the mountainous kingdom, nestled in the eastern Himalayas, faces terrain thats actively hostile to rail construction. Frequent landslides, unstable slopes, and earthquake risks make building tracks extremely dangerous and expensive.

Theres actually a proposed railway project linking Bhutan to Indias 70,000-kilometer network, originally planned two decades ago. But construction hasnt started yet. The terrain challenges remain formidable, and Bhutans government prioritizes preserving the countrys natural environment over major infrastructure projects. For now, visitors enter via road or air, with the nearest train stations located across the border in India.

Kuwait: Wealthy nation with no operational railway (yet)

Heres a surprising one: Kuwait, one of the worlds wealthiest countries per capita, currently has no operational railway. Despite its oil wealth, the nation has historically relied exclusively on an extensive highway network for transportation. But thats changing rapidly.

Kuwait is actively building its first railway as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) railway project, a massive $15 billion high-speed network spanning 2,217 kilometers across six Gulf nations. The Kuwait segment will cover 111 kilometers, connecting to Saudi Arabia, with trains reaching 200-250 km/h. Construction started in 2026, with completion expected by 2028. So Kuwait wont stay on this list for long.

Oman: Mountainous terrain delays railway construction

Oman currently lacks a mainline railway network due to its mountainous terrain and scattered population. The countrys rugged landscape, particularly in the northern Hajar Mountains, makes construction challenging and expensive.

However, Oman is also part of the GCC railway project. The nation plans a comprehensive 2,135-kilometer national network connecting ^[4] major ports (Sohar, Duqm, Salalah) to the GCC system. The Oman-UAE Railway Project (Hafeet Rail) is already advancing, with segments under development. One particularly challenging 93-kilometer stretch from Thamrait to Salalah Port traverses rugged terrain crisscrossed by major wadis (dry riverbeds).

Qatar: Metro exists, but no national railway

Qatar has a modern automated metro system in Doha (the Red, Gold, and Green lines), but it lacks a national railway network connecting cities. The countrys small size and excellent road infrastructure reduce the urgency for intercity rail.

Like its neighbors, Qatar is participating in the GCC railway. Plans include a high-speed electric line from Doha to Riyadh (around 100 kilometers within Qatar) with trains exceeding 300 km/h. A 350-kilometer long-distance passenger and freight network is also planned, with completion targeted for 2030.

Yemen: Conflict prevents railway development

Yemen is one of the nations with no rail network at present. Ongoing civil war since 2015 has devastated infrastructure, making rail construction impossible. Before the conflict, Yemen had limited rail plans, but nothing substantial was ever built.

The country relies entirely on road transport and its ports (Aden, Al Hudaydah, Mukalla) for moving goods and people. A post-war reconstruction plan includes proposed railway connections to Saudi Arabia and Oman, but with the conflict ongoing, that remains distant. The human toll here is staggering, and rebuilding will take decades.

Libya: Historical railway, destroyed by war

Libya once had operational railways, but there havent been any functioning trains since 1965. The country had limited rail infrastructure during the Italian colonial period, with some tracks still visible but completely abandoned.

Plans for a new network existed since 1998, including lines from Tripoli to Ras Ajdir (170 km), Tripoli to Sirte (472 km), and Misrata to Sabha (810 km). But the 2011 civil war halted all construction. Today, Libya has no functional railway service, relying instead on its road network and domestic flights.

Recent news suggests Libya is exploring resumption of railway construction. In 2025, Libya signed a memorandum with China to restart projects, aiming to establish the country as a transit corridor for freight moving between Africa and Europe. But given ongoing instability, realistic timelines remain uncertain.

Niger: Limited railway, but a cross-border line is coming

Niger has extremely limited rail infrastructure. The country currently has only one railway, built between 2014 and 2016, connecting Niamey to Dosso. Thats it—just a short line intended to link Niger to Benins rail network and the coast.

But a major development is underway. The Kano-Maradi railway, a 284-kilometer cross-border line connecting Nigerias Kano city to Nigers Maradi region, is under construction. This project, initiated in 2020 with construction starting February 2021, will transform Nigers connectivity, especially for freight transport and regional trade.

Rwanda: Landlocked and rail-free (for now)

Rwanda currently has no railway lines at all. The landlocked East African nation relies entirely on road transport and air travel for moving goods and people. Given its mountainous terrain (remember the 1994 genocides Hills of Rwanda?), rail construction is challenging but not impossible.

Plans are advancing for a standard gauge railway linking Isaka (Tanzania) to Kigali, with maximum speeds of 120 km/h for passengers and 80 km/h for freight. The ^[7] project aims to reduce Rwandas transport costs significantly—being landlocked currently adds around 50% to shipping expenses compared to coastal neighbors. A further line connecting to Uganda and Kenyas Mombasa port is also in planning stages.

Papua New Guinea: Rugged terrain and island geography prevent railways

Papua New Guinea has no major railway network. The countrys diverse topography—remote islands, dense jungles, and the mountainous spine of New Guinea—makes rail construction extraordinarily difficult. Some disused tracks exist at former mine sites, but nothing operational.

PNG relies heavily on air and sea transportation. With over 600 islands and rugged interior, flying is often the only practical way to reach remote communities. However, the government is exploring railway development. In 2025, a legal framework consultancy was awarded to draft regulations for a modern rail system, with an initial line proposed from Lae port to Watarais along the Markham stretch.

Comparison: How do countries without railways get around?

So how do these nations function without trains? Let's compare their primary transport alternatives.

Alternative transportation modes in rail-free nations

Countries without railways have adapted with other transport solutions based on their geography and resources.

Iceland

• Volcanic terrain, glaciers, low population density
• Road network (Ring Road) and domestic flights
• None currently—rail deemed economically unviable

Kuwait, Oman, Qatar

• Mountainous terrain (Oman), small population (Qatar)
• Extensive highway networks (Kuwait, Oman) and metro (Doha)
• GCC railway project (2026-2030) — Kuwait segment 111 km, Oman 2,135 km network planned

Yemen, Libya

• Ongoing civil war and political instability
• Road networks and ports
• Proposed post-war reconstruction, but no active construction

Bhutan, Nepal (partially)

• Extreme Himalayan terrain, earthquake risks
• Road and air (Bhutan has no railways; Nepal limited)
• Proposed India-Bhutan rail link (delayed)

Rwanda, Niger

• Landlocked, mountainous (Rwanda) or desert (Niger)
• Road networks (Rwanda), limited rail (Niger)
• Kano-Maradi railway (Niger), Isaka-Kigali line (Rwanda)

How a Kuwaiti family travels without trains

Ahmed, a 34-year-old engineer from Kuwait City, commutes 45 minutes each way to his job at an oil refinery. The route is all highway—Kuwait has no trains, so everyone drives. His family of five owns two cars, like most Kuwaiti households.

Last year, Ahmed's wife needed to visit her sister in Riyadh. Instead of a train, they drove 6 hours across the border. 'I wish we had a high-speed rail,' Ahmed says. 'The traffic on Highway 40 can be brutal during holidays.'

But change is coming. Ahmed recently saw news about Kuwait's 111-kilometer railway project, part of the $15 billion GCC network. 'They say trains will run at 250 km/h by 2028,' he notes. 'That would cut our Riyadh trip to under 3 hours—game changer.'

For now, Ahmed's family relies on cars and the occasional domestic flight. The absence of trains hasn't crippled daily life—Kuwait's road network is excellent—but the convenience of rail is eagerly anticipated.