Overview

Afghanistan's rail network is still in the developing stage. The current rail lines connect neighbouring countries in the north with short stretches in Afghanistan.

The three lines are: Mazar-i-Sharif and the border town of Hairatan in Balkh province, which then connects with the rail network of neighbouring Uzbekistan. The second links Toraghundi in Herat province with Serhetabat in Turkmenistan. The third is between Aqina in Faryab province and neighbouring Turkmenistan. The country currently lacks a passenger rail service. All routes may experience delays during the winter season.

1.Hairatan-Uzbekistan Rail: The railway line connects Hairatan on the Uzbekistan-Afghan border to the city of Mazar-I-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. The railroad is a 1,520mm standard gauge with passing loops at every 20km. The railway line between Termez (Uzbekistan) and Hairatan (Afghanistan) operates nonstop throughout the year with no seasonal hindrance.

Hairatan railway station handling equipment

2.Torghundi-Turkmenistan Rail: Torghundi is connected by a road and a 1520 mm gauge railroad with Serhetabat. The railroad was originally built in 1960 as a single track and was upgraded in 2017. Torghundi has become the starting point of the Lapis-Lazuli trade route linking Afghanistan to Turkey via Turkmenistan. The Torghundi railway Station is located 120 km north of Heart city and about 300 meters from the zero point from the border with Turkmenistan. It takes 1.5 hours by car and 2.5 hours by truck to drive from the border to Herat city.

Torghundi- Serhetabat Railway Line

3. Aqina-Turkmenistan Rail: Aqina is the southern terminus of a railway line via Imamnazar to Kerki in Turkmenistan. Aqina itself is located in northern Faryab province of Afghanistan near the border with Turkmenistan. The 30 km railway line connects the Aqina port with Andkhoi in Turkmenistan.

4. Rahzanak Railway Station: Located 74kms west of the city of Herat at GPS coordinates 34.440833, 61.491667 in Herat Province. The entrance to the station is about 100 meters off the main tarmac road connecting Herat city and Islam Qala border crossing. All types of vehicles, trucks and heavy machineries can access the railway station easily. The closest border crossing to the station is the Islam Qala crossing between Iran and Afghanistan and the closest airport is the Herat Airport. It takes about 1 hour to reach Rahzanak railway station by car and approximately 1.5 hours by truck from Herat city. Rahzanak railway station is part of the Khaf-Herat Railway Project which was initially planned to be 225kms long cross-border railway between Iran and Afghanistan, linking eastern Iran to western Afghanistan. The Khaf-Herat line is a single-track standard-gauge railway with a track gauge of 1,435mm and heads south from Khaf and proceeds east, across a rugged and arid landscape. The maximum speed is expected to be 120km/h for freight trains and 160km/h for passenger trains, while the axle load is up to 25mt. Delays can be expected during the winter season; however, currently this railway station is not operational due to damage to its infrastructure and equipment. There is no clear timeline when it will be rehabilitated. 

Rahzanak Railway Station

Warehouse at Rahzanak Station