This is a list of existing, under-construction, and proposed railway lines in Nepal, a landlocked nation currently undergoing a significant transition from a historically limited rail presence to a modern, electrified transportation network. While Bardibas-Jaynagar line remains the only operational passenger rail service in the country, several new lines are in the phase of planning and construction.
History
The history of rail transport in Nepal can be divided into three eras, the early Rana-era of narrow gauge lines of 1920, the decline of railway lines in mid-20th century and the modern plans for revival and electrification.
Early Rana-era lines The first railway of Nepal, Nepal Government Railway (NGR) was established between Raxaul in India to Amlekhganj in Nepal. It was around long and was based on narrow gauge system. The main purpose of this railway was to export Timber from lush forests of Terai to British India and later India. After nearly a decade in 1937, Nepal Janakpur Jaynagar Railway was established to transport passengers and woods to Indian town of Jaynagar from Janakpur.
The fall of railways
After the fall of Rana-rule and political uncertainty in the nation, the government started focusing on highways, leaving railways in limbo. The quality of service, lack of maintenance and aging infrastructure eventually forced the last remaining passenger railway, NJJR to shut down in 2014.
Modern revival
The revival of Nepali Railways started when the government formally established Department of Railways in 2011. The government, under technical and financial support from Government of India, converted the Jaynagar-Janakpur narrow gauge line into broad gauge and extending it till Bardibas in 2022. Currently, Nepal Government is working with multiple projects, notably East-West Railway, Raxaul-Kathmandu railwayThe project is under its phase of DPR finalisation and India is funding the project. and Kerung-Kathmandu railway all of which are planned to be electrified.
Railway lines Line Status Operator(s) Type Gauge Opened Length Electrified Notes Ref.Raxaul-AmlekhganjFreight & PassengerNarrow1927Closed in 1965Jaynagar-BijalpuraFreight & PassengerNarrow1937Closed in 2014; replaced by Jaynagar-Bardibas broad gauge lineBhimnagar-DharanFreightNarrow1958UnknownClosed in late 1960s after construction of Koshi Barrage completedNepal's five little railways, Nepali Times, 25 August 2025. https://nepalitimes.com/multimedia/nepal-s-five-little-railwaysRaxaul-SirsiyaFreightBroad2005India, Nepal link by rail (Raxaul-Sirsiya), CNNJaynagar-BardibasPassengerBroad2022 (planned in future)Jaynagar-Bijalpura section operational; Bijalpura-Bardibas under constructionConstruction work of Jayanagar-Bardibas Railway, New Business AgeBathnaha-BiratnagarFreightBroad2023Bathnaha-Birtanagar ICP constructed; Biratnagar ICP-Katahari under constructionBathnaha-Biratnagar freight train service comes into operation, The Kathmandu Post, 1 June 2023. https://kathmandupost.com/money/2023/06/01/bathnaha-biratnagar-freight-train-service-comes-into-operationKakarbhitta-BhimdattaPassenger & FreightStandardConstruction of Bardibas-Nijgadh section going on as priorityEast-West Electric Railway Project achieves only 7 percent progress in 15 years, Khabarhub, 25 November 2024. https://english.khabarhub.com/2024/25/415062/Raxaul-KathmanduPassenger & FreightBroadEstimated cost at $3 billionIndo-Nepal rail link: Detailed Project Report ready for Raxaul-Kathmandu new line project, The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indo-nepal-rail-link-detailed-project-report-ready-for-raxaul-kathmandu-new-line-project-10596458/Kerung-KathmanduPassenger & FreightStandardEstimated cost at $5.5 billionTrans-Himalayan Railway: A potential game changer for Nepal, The Annapurna Express, 12 February 2026. https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/62070/Kathmandu-PokharaPassenger & FreightStandardEstimated cost at $2.8 billionAt upcoming talks, Nepal and China to discuss Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini railways, The Kathmandu Post, 23 November 2019. https://kathmandupost.com/national/2019/11/23/at-upcoming-talks-nepal-and-china-to-discuss-kathmandu-pokhara-lumbini-railwaysTamasariya-Aanbu KhaireniPassenger & FreightStandardEstimated cost at $527 millionDetail Survey and Design of Electrified Railway Line Tamsariya–Butwal Section of Mechi–Mahakali Railway and Bhairahawa (Lumbini) Link (107.8 km), Full Bright Consultancy. https://fbc.com.np/project/detail-survey-and-design-of-electrified-railway-line-tamsariya-butwal-section-of-mechi-mahakali-railway-and-bhairahawa-lumbini-link-107-8-km/Rupaidiha-KohalpurPassenger & FreightBroadTBDConstruction hasn't proceeded after completion of surveys in 2018 due to various reasonsSurvey of Rupaidiya-Kohalpur railway line begins, MyRepublica, 15 March 2016. https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/survey-of-rupaidiya-kohalpur-railway-line-beginsBarhani-KathmanduTBDBroadapprox. TBDNo physical progress made since 2016Barhni-Kathmandu railway line: Modi government looks to expedite the proposed India-Nepal rail link project, The Financial Express, 9 July 2019. https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-barhni-kathmandu-railway-line-modi-government-looks-to-expedite-the-proposed-india-nepal-rail-link-project-1638015/Nautanwa-SiddharthnagarPassenger & FreightBroadTBDKakarbhitta-New JalpaiguriPassenger & FreightBroadKathmandu MetrorailLight railStandardTBDActual implementation uncertain Government forms committee to study metro rail in Kathmandu, New Business Age, 8 January 2017. https://newbusinessage.com/news/5099/government-forms-committee-to-study-metro-rail-in-kathmandu/
See also Nepal Railway Company Limited List of railway stations in Nepal Department of Railways (Nepal) Transport in Nepal
References