Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
0 comments 
Discover The Most Dangerous Railways In The World That Cross Volcanoes, Markets, Mountains, And Seas, Connecting Risk, History, And Adventure.
Traveling by train may seem like a tranquil experience, but some routes rank among the most dangerous railways in the world.
From bridges that face the fury of the sea to tracks built amidst active volcanoes or crowded markets, these journeys present extreme challenges for engineers and passengers alike.
Scattered across South America, Asia, and Oceania, these railways carry stories of daring, risk, and often tragedies that still impress those who know their routes.
-
A R$11.9 billion train that promises to revolutionize mobility in São Paulo and make trips of about 1 hour gains new progress with the inclusion of another city in the project.
-
The United Arab Emirates will inaugurate the country’s first passenger train in 2026 — 1,200 km of tracks through the desert, linking 7 emirates in less than 2 hours.
-
Austria inaugurates Europe’s first high-speed railway outside China — trains travel at 250 km/h through 33 km tunnels in the Alps that took 27 years to drill
-
Brazil has built 37,000 km of railway tracks since the 1950s, but abandoned a third of them — meanwhile, China already operates 50,000 km of high-speed rail and plans 60,000 by 2030.
See The 6 Most Dangerous Railways In The World
Aso Minami (Japan): Tracks In The Shadow Of The Volcano
In Japan, this route is considered highly risky as it passes very close to Mount Aso, an area with high volcanic activity.
Passengers can see burned vegetation and smoke rising from the volcano, especially in the autumn.
Devil’s Nose Train (Ecuador): Extreme Altitude And Danger At Every Bend
Another of the most dangerous railways in the world, this route crosses the Andes at about 9,000 meters above sea level.
Its old carriages and the steepest section — located 2.7 km above sea level — pose a significant challenge for engineers and passengers alike.
Train Of The Clouds (Argentina): The Train That Touches The Sky
This railway stands out as one of the most dangerous railways in the world, featuring 13 bridges, 21 tunnels, and 13 viaducts that snake through the Andes Mountains.
It was built over 27 years at an altitude of 4,017 meters and offers a 15-hour tourist ride covering about 434 km.
Kuranda Scenic (Australia): Beauty That Soaks Even The Last Passenger
This ride through the rainforest of Kuranda includes 34 km of tracks, 15 tunnels, and 40 bridges, crossing waterfalls that literally drench the passengers.
The combination of nature and complex structure makes the route a true spectacle and a controlled risk.
Death Railway (Thailand): History And Tragedy On The Tracks
The name alone is significant: built by prisoners of war during World War II, this railway is marked by the high number of lives lost during its construction.
Today, it offers stunning natural scenes, but the weight of its history resonates as a sad reminder of the costs of its existence.
Maeklong Railway (Thailand): Danger Between Stalls And Tracks
In the midst of a bustling street market, the train passes between stalls set up on the railway tracks.
With a low average speed of 30 km/h, the situation is still considered dangerous due to the proximity of vendors and makeshift structures.
Comparative Table: Most Dangerous Railways In The World
| Railway | Location | Main Danger |
| Train Of The Clouds | Argentina | Extreme Altitude, Many Tunnels And Bridges |
| Aso Minami | Japan | Volcanic Activity |
| Devil’s Nose | Ecuador | Altitude And Old Tracks |
| Kuranda Scenic | Australia | Waterfalls And Complex Structure |
| Maeklong Railway | Thailand | Markets On The Tracks |
| Death Railway | Thailand | Deadly History, Brutal Construction |
The most dangerous railways in the world exemplify the intersection of daring engineering, extreme scenarios, and latent risk.
Whether due to natural challenges or the history they carry, these routes are both fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
Be the first to react!