The railway is what at one time turned the world upside down, allowed people to travel faster than usual, and deliver cargo that was previously inaccessible for transportation. And most importantly - railways allowed us to reach the most remote places. Rail transport remains relevant today. After all, there are a lot of railways in the world. Some of them differ not only in their age, but also in their length.

1. New Silk Road

A unique railway that starts in the Chinese city of Yiwu and ends in the capital of Spain - Madrid. The road connects Europe and Asia, passes through 8 countries, and is the largest in the world. The trip takes 21 days and its total length is 13,026 km.

2. Trans-Siberian Railway

Construction of this road began back in 1981, and it became the first railway to connect Europe and Asia. The road has been modernized several times, which allows it to be used today. Its length is 9,288 km. You can get from Moscow to Vladivostok in 6 days.

3. Moscow-Beijing

Another long railway that intersects with the Trans-Siberian Railway. It is along this route that the well-known Vostok train runs. The length of the road is about 9 thousand kilometers. You can overcome them in 145 hours of continuous travel. Also, the train stops at the border for about 6 hours. This is a necessary delay because the train's wheelsets are being changed.

4. Transcontinental Railroad

In terms of the total length of railways, the United States ranks first in the world. They also have their own giants. The transcontinental railroad was built in 1869. Today it is part of the largest transcontinental network, the total length of which exceeds 107 thousand km.

5. Chicago-Los Angeles

One of the longest roads in the USA. Its length is 4,390 km. The road passes through seven states. It will take 67 hours to travel it completely. The train makes stops at 40 stations!

6. Toronto-Vancouver

Another very long road, this time located in Canada. Its length is 4,466 km. It connects cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. To get from one city to another it will take 86 hours by train. There are 66 stations on the road.

7. Lhasa - Guangzhou

China can also boast of a long railway track. This road is one of the longest on domestic routes of the country. Its length is 4,980 km. The train covers this route in just 54 hours. Along the train route you can see a huge number of attractions.

Continuing the theme in our time!

The United States of America has the world's longest railway network, followed by China and India. We present to your attention the longest railways in the world based on their total operating length.

And so, let's go!

Brazil: 28 thousand km

The first railway line in Brazil began operating in 1984. In 1957, the railway network was nationalized and the Rede Ferroviária Federal Sociedade Anônima (RFFSA) was created. The country's railway network has been divided into different services, which have been operated by a number of private and public operators since 2007.

The 28,000 km network is mainly focused on freight and iron ore. Passenger transport services in the country are mainly concentrated in urban and suburban areas. Eight Brazilian cities have a metro system, the largest being the São Paulo Metro.

In 2012, the Brazilian government announced the construction of 10 thousand km of new freight and high-speed passenger lines by 2042. The country also plans to build a high-speed rail link between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with a length of 511 km.

France: 29 thousand km

The French railway network is the second largest in Europe and the ninth largest in the world. The French railway network is predominantly focused on passenger transport. More than 50% of the country's railway lines are electrified. Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) is the country's main railway operator.

The country's high-speed, long-distance passenger services are known as Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV), while standard long-distance passenger services are branded Intercités. Short and medium distance passenger transport services are known as Transport Express Régional (TER). The network offers connections to neighboring countries such as Belgium, Italy and the UK.

France was one of the first to develop technology for high-speed rail, with SNCF introducing the TGV high-speed rail in 1981. The country's current high-speed network exceeds 1,550 km. The Tours-Bordeaux high-speed rail project, which was due to be completed in 2017, will add another 302 km.

Argentina: 36 thousand km

Argentina's current rail network of over 36,000 km ranks eighth in the world. At the end of World War II, Argentina had about 47 thousand km of railway tracks, which were operated mainly by British and French railway companies. But declining profits and increased highway construction in subsequent decades led to a reduction in the network to 36 thousand km, which remains at this level to this day. In 1948, the railway companies operating on the network were nationalized and the state railway corporation Ferrocarriles Argentinos was formed.

The Argentine Railway was privatized between 1992 and 1995, with concessions awarded to various private companies to operate six divisions of the formerly state-owned railway network. Cities such as Buenos Aires, Resistencia and Mendoza offer extensive commuter passenger services as well as long-distance domestic passenger services.

Argentina's much-discussed high-speed rail is still only a dream. In 2006, development of a 310-kilometer high-speed line between Buenos Aires and Rosario was announced. However, the project was not implemented. A second high-speed line of 400 km between Rosario and Cordoba has also been proposed.

Australia: 40 thousand km

The Australian rail network is the seventh largest in the world. Much of the rail network infrastructure is owned and maintained by the Australian government, either at the federal or state level. However, most trains are operated by private companies.

Aurizon (formerly QR National), Genesee and Wyoming Australia, and Pacific National are among the country's major cargo operators. Great Southern Railway, NSW TrainLink and Queensland Rail are the leading long distance freight operators. Metro Trains Melbourne, Sydney Trains, V/Line and Adelaide Metro provide commuter passenger services to major Australian destinations. In addition, the country has a number of private mountain railways.

The Australian rail network currently does not have a high speed line. So far there are only plans for its construction - it should connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. With an estimated construction cost of $114 billion, the first phase of the 1,748-kilometer high-speed network won't be delivered until 2035.

Germany: 41 thousand km

The state-owned Deutsche Bahn operates a 41,000 km railway network, which accounts for about 80% of total freight traffic and 99% of long-distance passenger traffic.

In addition to Deutsche Bahn, there are more than 150 private railway companies operating on the network, providing regional passenger and freight services. The S-Bahn serves major suburban and urban areas, and Hamburg Cologne Express (HKX) is the major long-distance passenger operator after Deutsche Bahn.

Since mid-2013, the German railway network has had more than 1,300 km of high-speed lines and more than 400 km of new high-speed lines under construction. In 1991, Deutsche Bahn pioneered the InterCity Express (ICE) high-speed service. Now, a high-speed network, allowing express trains to reach speeds of up to 320 km/h, connects major German cities and neighboring countries such as France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria.

Canada: 48 thousand km

Canada's railway lines are the fifth largest in the world. Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) are the two major transit rail networks operating in the country, and Via Rail operates 12,500 km of intercity passenger rail service. Algoma Central Railway and Ontario Northland Railway are among the few small rail operators that provide passenger service to some rural areas of the country.

Three Canadian cities - Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver - have extensive commuter systems. In addition, Rocky Mountaineer and Royal Canadian Pacific offer luxury rail tours that take in the beauty of the country's scenic mountain regions.

However, Canada does not have a single high-speed line on its rail network. Until recently, there have been many proposals for high-speed lines such as Toronto-Montreal, Calgary-Edmonton and Montreal-Boston, but none have moved beyond preliminary studies since January 2014.

India: 65 thousand km

India's nationwide railway network, the fourth largest in the world, is owned and operated by Indian Railways and covers an operational route of over 65,000 km. In 2013, the Indian railway network transported about 8 billion passengers (1st place in the world) and 1.01 million tons of cargo (4th place in the world).

The Indian railway network is divided into 17 zones and serves more than 19 thousand trains per day, including 12 thousand passenger and 7 thousand freight. By 2017, the national railway operator planned to add 4 thousand km of new lines, as well as significantly transform existing ones. It also plans to build a 3,338 km exclusive freight network with the introduction of the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) - two of the six planned dedicated freight corridors.

As a pilot project, the country is building a 534 km long high-speed line on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route with an estimated investment of US$9.65 billion.

Russia: 85,500 km

The entire Russian railway network, managed by the state monopolist Russian Railways (RZD), covers more than 85,500 km. In 2013, Russian Railways transported 1.08 billion passengers and 1.2 billion tons of cargo - the third largest volume of cargo after the United States and China.

The Russian railway network includes 12 main lines, many of which provide direct connections to European and Asian national railway systems such as Finland, France, Germany, Poland, China, Mongolia and North Korea. The Trans-Siberian Railway (Moscow-Vladivostok line), with a length of 9,289 km, is the longest and one of the busiest railway lines in the world.

In 2009, Russian Railways launched a high-speed express service between St. Petersburg and Moscow (“Sapsan”), which was not particularly successful due to the fact that its movement flows along the same tracks as regular trains. Following this, a dedicated express corridor was planned between the two cities with a proposed investment of $35 billion.

China: 100 thousand km

China's railway network, with a length of more than 100 thousand km, ranks second in the world. In 2013, the extensive network operated by the state-owned China Railway Corporation carried 2.08 billion passengers (second largest after Indian Railways) and 3.22 billion tons of freight (second largest after the US rail network).

Railroad is the main mode of transport in China. The country's railway network includes more than 90 thousand km of conventional railway routes and about 10 thousand km of high-speed lines. By 2050, the country's total railway network should exceed 270 thousand km.

Rapid expansion of China's high-speed rail network in last years makes it the largest in the world. The Beijing-Guangzhou High Speed ​​Line (2,298 km) is the world's longest high-speed rail line. According to forecasts, by 2020 the total length of the Chinese high-speed rail network will reach 50 thousand km.

United States: 250 thousand km

The US railway network, with a length of more than 250,000 km, is the largest in the world. Freight lines make up about 80% of the country's entire railway network, and the total length of passenger lines is about 35,000 km.

The US freight rail network consists of 538 railroads (7 Class I railroads, 21 regional railroads, and 510 local railroads) operated by private organizations. Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway are among the largest freight railroad networks in the world. Amtrak's national passenger rail network includes more than 30 rail routes connecting 500 destinations in 46 US states.

Currently, the United States has a plan to create a national high-speed rail system with a length of 27 thousand km by 2030. Construction of the California High Speed ​​Rail Link, the nation's first high-speed rail project, already began in 2014. Three other high-speed projects are also in development, including the Midwest High-Speed ​​Rail line connecting Chicago to Indianapolis or St. Louis, the Texas High-Speed ​​Rail and the Northeast High-Speed ​​Corridor.

The length of the road is 4373 kilometers.

The train passes through 8 Chinese provinces and 13 stations; the entire journey takes a total of three days, but the train itself takes approximately 47 hours. The train stops in several towns where you can get off the train and walk around a bit and look around. This is a very popular route for travelers who want to admire the varied landscapes outside their window during their trip and visit small towns in China. This is often the main reason for choosing this route, since the price difference compared to flying from Shanghai to Lhasa is not very significant. It is important that there is access to oxygen in the corridor and in the compartment, and you can also ask for a special oxygen tube if you feel ill from sharply changing altitudes.

9. Railroad from Chicago to Los Angeles

The length of the road is 4390 kilometers.

Railroads in the USA in the 20th century were a very popular mode of travel and trains were the most common form of transport among Americans. They later gave way to cars and airplanes, but a vast network of railways remains, making it still possible to travel around the country by train. Rail transportation in America is carried out by the state-owned company Amptrak. The longest American railway runs from Chicago to Los Angeles and for this you need to travel 4390 kilometers, spending 65 hours. During the entire journey, the train makes forty stops in seven states.

8. Railroad from Harbin to Haikou

4458 kilometers.

The train departs from the administrative center of the Chinese province of Heilongjiang in the northeast of the country, from the city of Harbin. This train arrives in the southern part of China in the city of Haikou, which is located on the island of Hainan, making the island much easier to reach thanks to constant rail connections between the north and south of the country. This road was put into operation in 2013, relatively recently, so it is considered a new road. The train makes 52 stops on its route and all together takes about 66 hours on the road.

7. Railroad from Toronto to Vancouver

4466 kilometers.

Just a few kilometers longer than the Chinese route is the train ride from Toronto to Vancouver, thanks to which you can have a great trip around Canada, get acquainted with the natural features of the country, see snow-capped mountain tops and green untouched forests. This route will take 86 hours with all stops, but perhaps this is the only opportunity for the average tourist to look at the diversity of flora and fauna of Canada's national parks from the train window.

6. Railway from Urumqi to Guangzhou

4684 kilometers.

Another Chinese train route on the list. This road runs diagonally across the entire country, connecting the northwestern and southeastern parts of China. Travelers on this route have a choice: there are three trains, three classes, each of which differs in price and travel time (50, 55 or 65 hours on the road.

5. Railway from Yining to Shanghai

4743 kilometers.

Another Chinese railway that runs from Yining to Shanghai. This route was opened in 2014. During the journey, passengers pass through 7 provinces of China, stopping at 32 stations where they can get off and explore the small towns of the country. Together with all the stops, such a journey will take about 56 hours on the road.

4. Railroad from Lhasa to Guangzhou

4980 kilometers.

Perhaps this best choice route for real travelers who want to cover the whole of China in one trip, since this route passes through almost the entire country and is extremely difficult to call it direct. During the trip (54 hours), you will stop in several fairly large cities, and also see how they live in the rural provinces of China. In addition, on the train that runs on this route, you can try many interesting traditional dishes, and you will also be warned via loudspeaker about various attractions that can be seen from the train window.

3. Railway from Moscow to Beijing

8984 kilometers.

An international railway running from the capital of Russia to the capital of China. This route will take you a full six days, 137 hours, with more than forty stops along the way. Of course, this is a route for the brave, but it is thanks to it that you can see cities in our country that you would hardly visit under other circumstances. Most of the route will be driven along the Trans-Siberian Railway.

2. Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok

9289 kilometers.

From school textbooks we remember that the Moscow-Vladivostok road is the longest railway in the world and was built at the end of the 19th century. However, she recently gave her championship to another route. Traveling along the second longest road in the world takes 178 hours (approximately 7 days of travel).

1. Railway from Yiwu to Madrid

13052 kilometers.

The length of the road is truly amazing - 13 thousand kilometers across the entire continent and 8 countries. This route was opened in 2014 and is unofficially called the “New Silk Road”. It is of particular importance for international trade, and goods can now be delivered from one destination to another in 21 days.

The advent of railway transport at one time gave a powerful impetus to development: thanks to the laying of such tracks, people were able to travel long distances, spending much less time on it.

In addition, railway communication made it possible to deliver large volumes of cargo to the most inaccessible points. Even after a century has passed since the beginning of the use of the railway for passenger and freight transport, this mode of transport remains the main one to this day. During this time, many kilometers of tracks were laid all over the world, which even today regularly ensure the transportation of goods and passengers. To make it clear what scale such construction projects have acquired, we present a list of the longest railways.

This united Europe and Asia for the first time; construction started back in 1981, its length was 9288 km. Thanks to this transport “artery”, today you can get from Moscow to Vladivostok in just 6 days.

In terms of the total length of such routes, the United States is the undisputed leader. This country has both private and state-owned railways of varying lengths. The longest among them is the Transcontinental, which was built in 1869. At the moment, this road is an integral part of the transcontinental network, the total length of which is 107 thousand km.

This road, which to this day is one of the main transport “arteries” of Canada, has a length of 4,466 km. There are 66 stations on it, and you can travel the road in 86 hours.

Another American railway giant, whose length is 4390 km. The tracks are laid across seven American states, with 40 stations along the entire length. In order to travel the road from start to finish, you will have to spend 67 hours.

The PRC is one of the largest countries in the world by area. To provide transport links in this territory, railways are actively used. The length of the Lhasa-Guangzhou road is 4980 km, making it one of the longest.

In order to travel it from start to finish, a passenger will need to spend 54 hours.