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What is the largest metro system in the world? | CityMetric

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What is the largest metro system in the world? | CityMetric

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This week we've been trying to work out which city has the largest metro in the world. It was surprisingly complicated.

So, for your delectation, here's the whole, horribly over complicated debate.

There are more than 150 metro systems on the planet. Exactly how many, though, is surprisingly difficult to pin down: there's some debate about which systems count, or whether to count integrated networks run by multiple operators as one metro or several.

Working out which metro is the largest is a similarly difficult exercise. Does largest mean "longest"? Most stations? Biggest ridership?

There probably isn't a definitive answer: too much depends on how you understand the question. But what the hell, we've started this now, so this week we're going to look at each possibility in turn.

Which metro has the most stations?

That looks straightforward enough, doesn't it? Can't possibly be any complicating factors here. Right?

Stations are a pretty important consideration when dealing with metros: after all, without places to get on or off, there's not much point in having a train.

And, in this category at least there seems to be a clear winner: the New York Subway has a record breaking 468 stations, roughly three-fifths of which are underground. So, the answer is New York. Here they all are:

A poster listing all New York's subway stations. Image: Alex Daly & Hamish Smyth.

That was easy.

Except, well, looking at things more closely - this got complicated surprisingly quickly - it might not have 468 at all. By "international standards", apparently, it NYC only has 421 subway stations.

So how is there so much uncertainty about whether 47 New York subway stations actually exist? The main reason seems to be that the Metropolitan Transit Authority counts some "station complexes", such as 14 th Street-Union Square, as two or more stations; most networks would count them as one. You'd think it'd be easy to work out how much stations a metro network has, but no, apparently not.

Anyway, what we can say for certain is that the subway has 368km of routes and currently operates 24 services which, we think, is the highest number in the world. It's a pretty big network, is what we're saying here. And that's without counting things like PATH.

Despite the chronic uncertainty over exactly how many New York subway stations there are, it's pretty clear that there are more than on any other network. No other system comes close: the Shanghai Metro is in distant second with its 12 lines and 337 stations, many of which come with fancy features like sliding safety doors.

Platform screen doors installed at Shanghai's Xujiahui Station. Image: Jianshuo/Wikimedia Commons.

Beijing isn't too far behind, with 319 stations, although this seems to run into similar problems as the figure for New York, and a more accurate count may be 268.

Anyway, here's the whole Top 10, using the figures as given by the networks themselves:

NYC Subway - 468

Shangai Metro - 337

Bejing Subway - 319

Seoul* Subway - 311

Paris Metro - 303

Madrid Metro - 301

London Underground - 270

Moscow Metro - 196

Mexico City Metro - 195

Tokyo Metro - 179

You notice that asterisk next to Seoul? That's because we're only counting lines 1-9, and not a whole bunch of other stuff that may or may not be part of the network.

Confused? Just you wait until we try to answer the next one:

Which metro is the longest?

You'd think, by restricting ourselves to a simple, one-dimensional numerical measure, that working out which city had the longest metro system in the world would be simple, wouldn't you?

Ha. No such luck. This time (spoilers), the root of the confusion lies in the vexed question of what counts as one metro network.

One oft-cited candidate for the world's longest metro network is the one in Seoul, which only opened in 1974 but by 2013 included 987.5km of route on 18 lines. That's pretty much enough to get you from London to Marseille. No other city comes close.

So why is this question remotely contentious? Because it's surprisingly unclear whether that metro should be counted as one system or several. It includes lines 1-9, the subway proper, which is operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation and the Seoul Metro (with which it'll merge next year).

But it also includes routes run by national rail operator Korail. Most contentiously, it includes lines run by satellite cities, such as the Incheon Transit Corporation, which operates trains in, well, Incheon.

An extract from a map of Seoul's complete metro network created by Wikipedia User IRTC1015. You can see the terrifyingly complicated full version here.

All these operators provide a single integrated network - but it's still the equvialent of measuring the London Underground by counting Overground, DLR, and so forth, or of counting the RER and Transilien as part of the Paris Metro. We are in danger, in other words, of comparing apples and oranges.

So what if you try to stick to apples alone? Look at lines 1-9 alone, and the network measures only 311km.

Which is quite a lot smaller and probably not the biggest in the world at all.

Other candidates for the top slot can't promise the 900km+ of route that the wider definitions of the Seoul metro do, but the figures they do cite are probably less contentious.

One is the Shanghai Metro, which runs to 548km and counting. In 2013, it achieved the distinction of becoming the first Chinese metro network to cross provincial boundaries, when line 11 was extended into the satellite city of Kunshan in neighbouring Jiangsu province.

There's talk of extending it further, to connect up with metro systems of the cities of Suzhou and Wuxi, both of which are 100km away or more, too. Not bad given that Shanghai didn't open its first metro line until 1993.

It isn't the only monster subway system that's sprouted in China recently either. The Beijing Subway, first opened in 1969, is the country's oldest, so it got a bit of a head start on Shanghai. Today, it runs 18 lines, serves 319 stations, and stretches for 527km.

Schematic map of Beijing's subway, created by Wikipedia Users Ran and Hat600.

This is another one of those networks which has more than one operator: this one's split between the state-owned Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp (15 lines) and the Beijing MTR Corp (a joint venture with the Hong Kong transit authorities, which operates three). Between them, in 2014, they carried 3.4bn passengers.

One interesting feature of Beijing's metro is its station names, which, translated literally, mean things like Smooth Justice, Heavenly Peace Gate and (less appealingly) Cholera Camp. So, there you go.

Here, best we can tell, with all the caveats about different cities playing by different rules here, is the top 10 of metros proper:

Shanghai Metro - 548km

Beijing Subway - 527km

London Underground - 402km

New York Subway - 373km

Seoul Subway - 332km

Moscow Metro - 328km

Madrid Metro - 294km

Guangzhou Metro - 240km

Mexico City Metro - 227km

Nanjing Metro - 224km

Anyway. Next we're going to try counting people. That's where things get really complicated.

Which city has the busiest metro system?

There's something inherently about awkward about phrases like "1.5bn people a year ride on the Paris Metro". It doesn't mean that a fifth of the world are hanging around Châtelet-Les Halles station at least once a year, obviously, it just means that there are that many journeys undertaken.

Anyway. Until very recently, on the question of which metro system carried the most passengers - had the highest ridership, in the jargon - there was a clear winner. The Tokyo Underground Railway Company launched Japan's first underground railway, the Ginza line between Ueno and Asakusa, in 1927. It was just 2.2 km long, but nonetheless, the line became so popular that passengers would queue up, sometimes waiting for over two hours just to ride the metro for five minutes.

Nearly nine decades later, the privately run Tokyo Metro runs nine lines, while the publically-owned Toei Subway operates another four and the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit another. Between them they cover 290 stations - and carry a colossal 3.3bn passengers a year, or over 8m a day.

Unsurprisingly, the network has become a byword for overcrowding - a sort of metaphor for Japan's work culture. The concept of " pushers ", in which guards help passengers by shoving them into crowded subway trains, seems to have started in New York. But these days, the "osiyas" (literally, Japanese for "person who pushes for a living") are associated mostly with Toyko's crowded metro.

Pushers at work. Screenshot from The Fat Finger on YouTube.

At some point in the last couple of years, however, Tokyo may have lost its crown as the world's most crowded. Beijing's has 18 lines, run by two operators: between them they carried an estimated 3.4bn passengers in 2014.

We say "may" because, as ever, it is difficult to be sure we're comparing like-with-like here: a journey involving two operators and three different lines may be counted once, twice, or three times, depending on the statistical rules applied by the local authorities. At present, then, it's difficult to be sure that Beijing has overtaken Tokyo. If it hasn't, though, it seems almost certain that, in the not too distant future, it will.

Other networks are racing up behind, too. The Shanghai metro only opened in 1993, but in just over 20 years it's expanded to include 327 stations on 14 lines. By 2014 it was already carrying 2.8bn passengers a year. At the end of that year it's believed to have achieved a world record, when it carried 10.3m passengers in a single day.

Not far behind that is our own friend the Seoul Subway, where lines 1-9 carry 2.6bn passengers per year. (The extended network that we talked about last time carries considerably more.)

*Includes the Tokyo Metro, the Toei Subway, and the Rinkai Line.

**Lines 1-9 only

The London Underground is bubbling under in 11th place with just 1.3bn. And you thought the Central Line got crowded of a morning.

So which metro should we call the world's biggest? Is it Toyko for being the busiest? Seoul for its length? New York for its station numbers? Or Shanghai for placing well in all categories?

The answer, alas, has to be "it depends how you count". Sorry. We did try to warn you.

Research: Suren Prasad.

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What is the largest metro system in the world?

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This week we've been trying to work out which city has the largest metro in the world. It was surprisingly complicated. So, for your delectation, here's the whole, horribly over complicated debate. There are more than 150 metro systems on the planet.

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Picture of Liniar L0 Series

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Fastest train that is in service in the world.

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2015-20-13 - Shanghai MagLev ride as seen from VIP seat

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Video that explains how does Maglev Train works

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Picture of Shanghai Maglev

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Video of Liniar L0 Series

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World's longest train journeys - Telegraph

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World's longest train journeys - Telegraph

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Like trains so much you never want to get off? You might want to consider one of the following journeys, which are the world's longest by rail, with no change of train involved.

1. Trans-Siberian: Moscow to Vladivostok (Russia)

2. The Canadian: Toronto to Vancouver (Canada)

The Canadian Rockies (Photo: AP)

* The world's best rail journeys: in pictures

3. Shanghai to Lhasa (China)

4. California Zephyr: Emeryville (San Francisco) to Chicago

The Nullarbor Plain in Australia (Photo: AP)

* The world's greatest motorcycle journeys

5. Indian Pacific: Sydney to Perth (Australia)

6. Vivek Express: Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari (India)

This 82-hour trip on the weekly Vivek Express is the longest train journey in India. It traverses the length of the country from the far north-east to its southern tip at an average speed of 32mph. Take plenty to read and drink lots of chai.
Distance 2,633 miles
Duration 82 hours (about four days)
Estimated cost Remarkably cheap - from £6.50 an unreserved base fare, up to about £45
Key stops 57 in total: all pretty small stations

* Glasgow to Mallaig: great train journeys

7. Paris-Moscow Express: Paris (France) to Moscow (Russia)

The longest trans-European route heads east from the French capital's Gare de l'Est and arrives at the Russian capital's Bielowruskaia station two days later, taking in some of the continent's major cities on the way. You'll pass through Belarus so will need a Belarus transit visa, as well as the one you need to enter Russia.
Distance 1,998 miles
Duration 48 hours
Estimated cost From £175 to £650, excluding visas.
Key stops Brussels, Cologne, Berlin, Warsaw, Minsk

8. The Ghan: Darwin to Adelaide (Australia)

Australia's red centre is one of the most spectacular wildernesses in the world, and the Ghan is unquestionably the most comfortable way to see it. The train runs through the heart of the country: between the south coast at Adelaide and the north coast at Darwin, taking two nights and three days. It is named after the Afghans who helped to open up the Australian interior on camels imported from India. From Alice, as the locals call it, you can visit the world's largest monolith, Uluru, or Ayers Rock.
Distance 1,851 miles
Duration 47 hours (two nights)
Estimated cost From £453 for a seat to £1,755 for a platinum service cabin from Great Southern Rail (greatsouthernrail.com)
Key stops Alice Springs

9. Eastern and Oriental Express: Bangkok (Thailand) to Singapore

* The world's best nostalgic rail journeys

10. Blue Train: Pretoria to Cape Town (South Africa)

Wait, there's more...

Osaka to Sapporo (Japan) 937 miles

Stockholm (Sweden) to Narvik (Norway) 910 miles

CrossCountry: Aberdeen to Penzance (UK) 722 miles

Isbani: Alexandria to Aswan (Egypt) 683 miles

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Like trains so much you never want to get off? You might want to consider one of the following journeys, which are the world's longest by rail, with no change of train involved.

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The 10 Fastest Trains in the World - Condé Nast Traveler

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The 10 Fastest Trains in the World - Condé Nast Traveler

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Traveling Europe by train is already faster than by plane right now, and Japan is testing a "Supreme" version of its popular high-speed trains, set for a 2020 debut ahead of the next Winter Olympics. You can't ride that one just yet, but there are more than a few bullet trains available to speed up your travels. Here are the world's fastest high-speed trains in commercial service, ranked by speed:

1. Shanghai Maglev: 267 mph

The world's fastest train isn't the newest, the shiniest, or even the one with the most expensive tickets. Charging $8 per person, per ride, the Maglev runs the nearly 19 miles from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport to the Longyang metro station on the outskirts of Shanghai. That's right-the train, which takes just over 7 minutes to complete the journey using magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, doesn't go to the city center. As such, the bulk of the passengers since its 2004 debut have been travelers on their way to and from the airport, cameras out and ready to snap a photo of the speed indicators when the train hits 431 km/hr (267 mph).

2. Fuxing Hao CR400AF/BF: 249 mph

China wins again, also serving as home to the world's fastest non-maglev train currently in service. The name "Fuxing Hao" translates to mean "rejuvenation," and each of the two trains have been branded with nicknames: CR400AF is "Dolphin Blue," and the CR400BF is "Golden Phoenix." The "CR" stands for China Railway. Both take just under five hours to zip up to 556 passengers each between Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao Station, easily halving the nearly 10-hour time it takes to ride the conventional, parallel rail line between these two megalopolises. The "Rejuvenation" also beats China's next fastest train, the "Harmony" CRH380A; it has dazzled since 2010, with speeds of up to 236 mph on routes connecting Shanghai with Nanjing and Hangzhou, and Wuhan with Guangzhou.

3. Shinkansen H5 and E5: 224 mph

Japan is celebrating the 54th anniversary of high-speed train travel this year, since it was way back in 1964 that the Hikari high-speed train launched service between Tokyo and Osaka, cutting travel time between the country's two largest cities from nearly seven hours to a mere four by rail. The H5 and E5 series Shinkansen, respectively running the Tohoku and Hokkaido services, are two of the newer bullet trains on Japan's tracks, and so far the fastest in regular commercial service in the country.

4. The Italo and Frecciarossa: 220 mph

Italy's dueling train operators, NTV and Trenitalia, each flaunt a high-speed train that tie as Europe's fastest, capable of shuttling passengers from Milan to Florence or Rome in under three hours, with a new route to Perugia debuting this year. The Frecciarossa, or "red arrow," was unveiled during Expo 2015, held in Milan, and the train is remarkable as much for its speed as for its construction; its components are nearly 100 percent renewable and sustainable.

5. Renfe AVE: 217 mph

Spain's fastest train is the Velaro E by Siemens, and it is used for long-distance services to major Spanish cities and beyond: traveling from Barcelona to Paris can now be accomplished on high-speed rail in six hours.

6. Haramain Western Railway: 217 mph

The Mecca-Medina high-speed link stretches the 281 miles between Saudi Arabia's most holy cities and has been in partial operation since December 2017, with full completion set for early summer 2018. Traveling the length of the route takes two and a half hours, compared to five hours by car. Speed isn't the entire justification for the construction of this railway, however; the Haramain is expected to carry three million passengers a year, including many Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, relieving traffic congestion.

7. DeutscheBahn ICE: 205 mph

The distinctively futuristic white and silver of the Inter-City Express, or ICE, combined with its sharp red cheatline, makes an impressive sight speeding through scenic German countryside, especially on its newest route connecting Berlin and Munich. Similar to Spain's Renfe AVE train, Germany's fastest train is another Siemens design, the Velaro, and was built to fit through the Channel Tunnel. That's a serious asset for DeutscheBahn's long-term plans to operate these trains from Frankfurt to London.

8. Korail KTX: 205 mph

South Korea's high-speed rail network is far from the newest (the KTX debuted in 2004), but it does hold its rank among the fastest. The latest route, opened just in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics, connects Incheon International Airport in the west to the coastal town of Gangneung in the east, stopping in Seoul along the way. The KTX cuts the transport time to reach the ski slopes of PyeongChang from six hours by conventional train to under two hours.

9. Eurostar e320 and TGV: 200 mph

Both the TGV and Eurostar e320 trains are tied for next on the list, but the latter underwent a redesign in 2015. Named for its top speed of 320 km/hr (200 mph), the e320 series is the first tip-to-tail redesign of a Eurostar train in the company's 22-year history. The speedier trains-20 km/hr faster than the earlier, e300 series-are capable of trimming another 15 minutes off the already zippy Eurostar trips of around two hours between Brussels, Paris, and London (and Amsterdam, later this year). Since Eurostar delivers its passengers right to the center of each city and fares are available with Rail Europe from $70 one-way, it's a wonder anyone still flies between the cities.

10. Thalys: 186 mph

Connecting Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and Cologne with multiple daily services, the Thalys is one of Europe's most important train lines for both leisure and business travelers; in fact, its ridership is almost an even split between the two categories. In December 2015 the German route was extended as far as Dortmund, though the Brussels-to-Paris run remains critical, making up more than half the business.
This article was originally published in 2016 and has been updated with new information.

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Traveling Europe by train is already faster than by plane right now, and Japan is testing a "Supreme" version of its popular high-speed trains, set for a 2020 debut ahead of the next Winter Olympics. You can't ride that one just yet, but there are more than a few bullet trains available to speed up your travels.

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Deepest Metro Stations in the World - WorldAtlas.com

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Deepest Metro Stations in the World - WorldAtlas.com

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An average metro station is situated only a few stories underground. However, the geography and geology of a regional force engineers to establish stations deep below ground. Such geological and geographical factors include bodies of water such as rivers, swamps, and lakes. The world's deepest metro stations can be found across different areas of the world and below are some of them.

5. London Underground - Hampstead (190 feet)

At 190 feet below ground, the Hampstead station is the deepest station for the London Underground and is located in Hampstead, North London. The station was designed by Leslie Green, an English architect, and was officially opened on June 22, 1907. Hampstead station is situated between the stations of Belsize Park and Golders Green on the Northern line's Edgware branch - it is also the branch's northernmost subterranean station. Hampstead station is on the boundary between Travelcard Zones 2 and 3. The station is built on a steep hill and consists of the deepest lift shaft at 180 feet which houses high-speed lifts.

4. Portland Light Rail - Washington Park (259 feet)

Located in Portland, Oregon, the Washington Park station is a light rail on the Max Blue and Red Lines of the Portland Light Rail. At 259 feet underground, Washington Park is the only station in the Max system that is completely below ground. Washington Park is not only among the world's deepest transit stations but also the deepest in North America. The Hoyt Arboretum, World Forestry Center, Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Oregon Zoo, and Portland's Children Museum are some of the establishments that surround the station's surface level plaza which is situated in the middle of a parking lot.

3. Saint Petersburg Metro - Admiralteyskaya (282 feet)

Saint Petersburg Metro, located in Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, Russia is one of the world's deepest metro systems by average depth. The system's deepest station Admiralteyskaya is located at 282 feet below ground and it is the world's 9th busiest metro system serving an estimated 2 million passengers per day. The metro including the Admiralteyskaya station consists of the world's longest escalators which exceed 410 feet.

2. Kiev Metro - Arsenalna (346 feet)

Arsenalna station on Kiev Metro is one of the world's deepest stations with 346 feet below the surface. For passengers to board a subway train at Arsenalna station, they have to take two long escalators to the bottom which take approximately five minutes. The station's unusual depth is mainly attributed to the geography of Kiev. The main entrance to the station is located atop a steep valley adjacent to the Dnieper River where the river's high banks rise above the rest of the city.

1. Pyongyang Metro (360 feet)

At 360 feet deep underground, the Pyongyang Metro system is located in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea. It is one of the deepest subway systems in the world (if not the deepest). The metro system began its operation on September 9, 1973 - approximately 43 years ago. It is so deep that temperatures at the platform are constantly 18 degrees Celsius all year long. The Pyongyang Metro comprises of two lines: the Hyoksin Line running in the southwest from Kwangbok Station to Ragwon Station and the Chollima Line running north from Puhung Station to Pulgunbyol Station. Estimates of around 300,000 to 700,000 people take the Pyongyang Metro every day. Due to its depth, Pyongyang metro stations double as bomb shelters protected by heavy blast doors put in place at hallways. The metro has a museum entirely devoted to its history and construction.

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An average metro station is situated only a few stories underground. However, the geography and geology of a regional force engineers to establish stations deep below ground. Such geological and geographical factors include bodies of water such as rivers, swamps, and lakes.

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The long escalator of Pyongyang Metro

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Where Is The World's Highest Railway Station Located? - WorldAtlas.com

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Where Is The World's Highest Railway Station Located? - WorldAtlas.com

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At the height of 16,627 feet above sea level, the Tanggula railway station of the Qinghai-Tibet railway line of the Chinese Railways is the highest railway station in the world. It surpasses the Ticlio station in Peru whose height is 15,843 feet above sea level. Other tall railway stations with a height close to Tanggula are the Condor station in Bolivia on the Rio Mulatos-Potosí line and the La Galera station Peru with heights of 15,702 and 15,686 feet above sea level respectively. The railway station (which is not staffed )was officially opened for service on July 1st, 2006 and is located more than half a mile from the highest point of the rail track which has a height of about 16,640 feet. The platform of the Tanggula Railway Station was chosen for the scenic sights from its platform, which is about 4,100 feet long and stretches over an area of 19.02 acres.

Overview Of The Tanggula Mountain Railway Station

The Tanggula Mountain Railway Station has three tracks, one of which is served by a platform while the other two are served by relatively short sub-platforms. The Tanggula Railway Station is a comprehensive railway station for both freight and passenger transport. Tanggula is the highest intermediate station along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Tanggula Mountain Railway Station has a waiting room which is equipped with large devices that generate oxygen to prevent its passengers from getting altitude sickness. The region around the station is uninhabited thus there are no passenger transport services available other than the train. A train passing through to Tibet can stop at the Tanggula Station to wait for another train which is coming from the other direction to pass. However, passengers on board the train are not allowed to exit the Tibet train at that point.

Sightseeing along the Tanggula Railway Station

There are 45 railway stations along the Qinghai-Tibet route which offer passengers picturesque sceneries, nine of which have sightseeing platforms. Among the exquisite sights along the Qinghai-Tibet line include the Tuotuo River, the Kunlun, and Tanggula mountain ranges, Potala Palace, Lake Qinghai and the Bird Island, the Yangtze River, Yangpachen, and Kekexili. Other sites include forests, grasslands, rare wild animals such as the Tibetan antelope, prayer flags, folk houses, and lakes and rivers.

Significant Features Along The Qinghai-Tibet Line

With a width of more than 93 miles, the Tanggula Mountains' main peak is the Geladandong and the headstream of the Tuotuo River. Geladandong is an ancient point that always serves as a major tourist attraction. The other significant feature along the line is the Tanggula Mountain Pass with a height of approximately 17,262 feet above sea level. Tanggula Mountain Pass is the highest point on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and also serves as a natural border between Qinghai and Tibet. Since the mountain peak has numerous crisscrossed glaciers the snow on Tanggula Mountain does not melt throughout the year.

Schedules Of The Trains

The railway line which goes from Xining all the way to Lhasa in Tibet, not only connects Lhasa to Xining but also to the entire China railway network. At present, passengers can board the train from numerous large cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Lanzhou, and Chengdu. Most of the trains are available on a daily basis and the tickets can either be purchased at any railway station found in Mainland China, via phone, online or through a reliable booking agency.

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Where Is The World's Highest Railway Station Located?

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At the height of 16,627 feet above sea level, the Tanggula railway station of the Qinghai-Tibet railway line of the Chinese Railways is the highest railway station in the world. It surpasses the Ticlio station in Peru whose height is 15,843 feet above sea level.

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Why can't America have high-speed trains? - CNN

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Why can't America have high-speed trains? - CNN

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why can't america have high-speed trains? - cnn

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Why can't America have high-speed trains? - CNN

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News that a Japanese maglev train had reached a top speed of close to 400 miles per hour made headlines. So why can't America have high-speed trains?

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Country With the Longest Train Network Survives

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Country With the Longest Train Network Survives

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This list of countries by rail transport network size based on International Union of Railways data ranks countries by length of rail lines worked at end of year updated with other reliable sources. These figures also include urban/suburban mass-transport systems; as well as lines which are not used for passenger services.

1. United States - 250,000 km

The US rail network, with an operating route length over 250,000 km, is the biggest in the world. Freight lines constitute about 80% of the country's total rail network, while the total passenger network spans about 35,000 km.

2. China - 124,000 km

China's rail network, with a route length of over 124,000 km, ranks as the second biggest rail network in the world. The extensive network, operated by state-owned China Railway Corporation, carried 2.08 billion passengers (the second highest after Indian Railways) and 3.22 billion tonnes of freight (the second highest after the US railway network) in 2013. The total rail network of the country is targeted to exceed 270,000 km by 2050.

3. Russia - 86,000 km

Russia's whole network, operated by state-owned monopoly Russian Railways (RZD), runs for over 86,000 km. In 2013, the network carried 1.08 billion passengers and 1.2 billion tonnes of freight - the third highest freight volume after the US and China.

4. India - 68,525 km

The Indian nationwide rail network, the fourth longest in the world, is owned and operated by state-owned Indian Railways and includes an operating route length of more than 68,525 km. IR is the world's eighth biggest employer and had 1.331 million employees at the end of 2015-16.

5. Canada - 48,000 km

Canada's 48,000 km of rail lines makes its national network the fifth longest in the world. Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) are the two major freight rail networks operating in the country, while Via Rail operates the 12,500 km intercity passenger rail service. Algoma Central Railway and Ontario Northland Railway are among the other smaller railways providing passenger services to certain rural areas in the country.

6. Germany - 43,468 km

State-owned Deutshe Bahn dominates Germany's 43,468 km railway network, accounting for about 80% of the total freight traffic and 99% of the long-distance passenger traffic. The German railway network had more than 1,300 km of high-speed railway track operational as of mid-2013 and more than 400 km of new high-speed line under construction. Deutshe Bahn opened high-speed services, under the name InterCity Express (ICE), for the first time in 1991. The high-speed network, operated at speeds up to 320 km/h, now connects major German cities and neighbouring countries such as France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria.

7. Australia - 40,000 km

The Australian railway network is the world's seventh longest at more than 40,000 km. Most of the railway network infrastructure is owned and maintained by the Australian government either at the federal or state level. The majority of the trains on the network are, however, operated by private companies.

8. Brazil - 37,743 km

The 37,743 km network is predominantly freight-focussed and includes major iron ore rail lines. The country's passenger rail services are mostly concentrated in urban and suburban areas. Eight Brazilian cities have metro systems, São Paulo Metro being the biggest among them.

9. Argentina - 36,966 km

Argentina's current rail network spanning over 36,966 km in length ranks the eighth largest in the world. Argentina used to have about 47,000 km of rail network at the end of the Second World War, mostly operated by British and French-owned railway companies. But the decline of profits and the rise of highway construction in the subsequent decades reduced the network to the 36,966 km of line that exists today. The railway companies operating on the network were nationalised in 1948 with the creation of the state railroad corporation Ferrocarriles Argentinos.

10. South Africa - 31,000 km

The total network of South African is about 31,000 km. There are some luxury trains in South African and one of the most notable trains is known as the Blue Train. The train runs between Cape Town to Johannesburg. A high-speed rail network has been proposed in the country but the work is yet to begin. The country has one of the best networks in the world.

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Countries With Largest Railway Networks In World

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This list of countries by rail transport network size based on International Union of Railways data ranks countries by length of rail lines worked at end of year updated with other reliable sources. These figures also include urban/suburban mass-transport systems; as well as lines which are not used for passenger services.

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Countries that Has the Most Passengers On the Train

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Countries that Has the Most Passengers On the Train

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Railroads For Passenger Use

Reliable public transportation is important for societies as it enables people to reach farther destinations more quickly. The idea behind rail transport dates back as far as ancient Greece. However, modern day infrastructure began in the early 1800's. Countries share similar motivational factors behind the expansion of their passenger rail lines, large numbers of workers were needed to extract resources in far-off places. Human thought about geography changed as it became possible to move from one part of the country to another in mere hours rather than days.

Economic And Social Impact Of Passenger Trains

Passenger trains, particularly high-speed systems, have great economic and social benefits. To begin with, they allow consumers to save time, money, and energy while providing reliable transportation. Trains are affected neither by bad weather nor traffic congestion, this ensures delay-free mobility. People who would otherwise be too far away to consider employment in large urban centers are suddenly able to expand their employment possibilities thanks to passenger trains. Construction and maintenance of these train systems also create jobs and affects urban development. Since trains can carry more passengers than personal vehicles, they also emit lesser amounts of greenhouse gasses than conventional transportation methods.

Countries With Highest Passenger Traffic

If you long for the days when traveling by train was the only available option for long distance travel, consider visiting one of the countries on this list.

China serves approximately 772.8 billion passenger-kilometers yearly; passenger rail travel is one of the main modes of transportation in the country. Today, high-speed trains in this country can reach speeds of up to 217 miles per hour! The number of passengers opting to commute by railways is also gradually increasing every year. These trains have improved transportation comfort and speed for everyone, including rural migrant workers who are working in cities far from home. They are now able to return home quickly and cost-effectively for special occasions or family emergencies. Tourists are also able to navigate the country independently by utilizing rail services.

The second highest passenger traffic can be found in India where 770 billion passenger-kilometers are serviced annually. In contrast, some of the fastest trains in India reach only around 81 miles per hour. In the heavily populated cities of the country, avoiding traffic by taking trains is the most efficient way to get around. Consumers enjoy some of the lowest ticket fares in the world although, higher class fares are significantly more expensive.

After India, Japan takes third place with 255.9 billion passenger-kilometers every year. The most common use of passenger trains in this country is for travel between and within the big cities. True to the culture surrounding being on time, Japanese trains are some of the most punctual in the world. High-speed options can run up to speeds between 250 and 375 miles per hour and have changed the lifestyle of business travelers. Once taking nearly an entire work day to travel between Tokyo and Osaka, today, the trip can be made in a matter of hours. This option allows workers to be in their own beds at night.

Other countries with high passenger traffic include Russia (175.8 billion), France (88.3 billion), Germany (77 billion), Ukraine (53.1 billion), United Kingdom (51.8 billion), Italy (47 billion), and Egypt (40.8 billion).

Reasons To Travel By Train

Trains offer travels, whether for leisure or business, a more affordable alternative to flying with more predictable rates that are not likely to change. Depending on the country, discounts may even be available for senior citizens and students as well. If traveling for tourism, trains also provide a step back in time and offer landscape views that might otherwise be missed. Perhaps most importantly is that train travel is more energy efficient than personal vehicles and aircraft. The emissions that they do produce are less environmentally damaging (particularly when compared to flying).

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Highest Railway Passenger Traffic In The World

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Reliable public transportation is important for societies as it enables people to reach farther destinations more quickly. The idea behind rail transport dates back as far as ancient Greece. However, modern day infrastructure began in the early 1800's.

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Countries that are Without Railroad Services

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Countries that are Without Railroad Services

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The railway network is the oldest form of transportation in the world, in fact, the history of railway network started in ancient Greece in the 6th century BCE. Previously it was used in mines, but with the introduction of steam engines, commercial railways were introduced and they helped people move from one place to the other. Although the railway network is used in hundreds of countries in the world, there are some countries without railway transportation.

Andorra

Andorra is the 11th smallest nation by population and the 16th tiniest by land. Other than the French railway line connecting Toulouse and Latour-de-Carol which runs approximately 1.2 miles into this country's border, Andorra has never had a railway network. The nearest railway station is the one in France which is connected to the nation by a bus service to Andorra-la-Vella.

Bhutan

Bhutan is one of the smallest land-locked nations located in South Asia. Bhutan has no railway network, but there are plans to link the southern parts of Bhutan to the vast Indian railway network. India plans to construct an 11 mile long network linking Toribari in Nepal to Hashimara in western Bengal.

Cyprus

Currently, Cyprus has no operational railway network, but the country had a railway network which operated from 1905 to 1951. The train was 76 miles long with 39 stations but it closed down due to financial reasons. Another extension was constructed to serve the Cyprus-mines Corporation which shut down in 1974.

East Timor

East Timor has poor communication networks and transportation infrastructure. East Timor has never had a railway network, and the primary transportation system in the nation is via the roads which are in poor condition. There is a proposal to construct a 310.7 miles extended electrified single-track network running from Los Palos to Bobonaro.

Guinea-Bissau

Located in West Africa, Guinea-Bissau is one of the few African nations which have never had a railway network. The primary transportation method used in the country is via the tarmacked roads in the capital and the unpaved roads in the other towns. Guinea Bissau signed an agreement in 1998 with Portugal for the construction of a railway network in the country.

Iceland

Although there have been three railway networks in Iceland, the country has never had a public railway network. Iceland has no public railway network, and this is because of stiff competition from the automobile traffic, a small population, and harsh environmental conditions. There have been abandoned proposals for a railway network since the early 1900s. New plans were introduced in the 2000s to construct a railway in the capital city.

Kuwait

Kuwait is an oil-wealthy nation whose transport system is highly dominated by roads. Currently, Kuwait has no railway, but several railway network projects are being planned. The country plans to construct a 1,200 mile Gulf Railway network which will run from Kuwait city to Oman.

Libya

With all the previous railway lines dismantled, Libya has not had an operational railway network since 1965. Libya has numerous railway networks projects under construction. In fact, the construction of the line connecting Ras Ajdir and Sirte began in 2001. The development of the line from Ras Ajdir to Tripoli began in 2008 and 2009.

The main reason why these nations do not have a railway network is due to lack of funds for construction. The primary challenge affecting the construction of railways in countries like Iceland is a poor environment. In the oil-rich nations like Kuwait, transportation is dominated by roads, so the government did not see the need for constructing a railway line, but congestion on the streets caused by an increased number of vehicles is forcing them to start building railway networks.

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The railway network is the oldest form of transportation in the world, in fact, the history of railway network started in ancient Greece in the 6th century BCE. Previously it was used in mines, but with the introduction of steam engines, commercial railways were introduced and they helped people move from one place to the other.

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Maharajas' Express, India - $3,385 per night

The Maharajas' Express, which travels across North-West and Central India costs an average of $3,385 a night per passenger travelling in its Presidential Suite. Operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the train features 23 coaches and accommodates up to 88 guests. The train has won the WTA World's leading Luxury Train Award twice in a row in 2012 and 2013.

The Maharajas' Express offers five itineraries: Heritage of India (7 Nights / 8 Days), Treasures of India (3 Nights / 4 Days), Gems of India (3 Nights / 4 Days), The Indian Panorama (7 Nights / 8 Days) and The Indian Splendour (7 Nights / 8 Days).

Accommodation options aboard the Indian luxury train include one Presidential Suite, 18 Junior Suites, 20 Deluxe Cabins, and four Suites. The Presidential Suites feature a living cum dining room and two bedrooms with attached baths, and are extravagantly furnished with twin/double bed, mini bar, LCD television, lavish interiors, climate control system and safe and direct dial telephone. Dedicated cars are provided for restaurant, bar, lounge, and kitchen.

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, Russia - $2,142 per night

The Trans-Siberian Express charges as much as $2,140 per night for single occupancy in its Gold Class or Imperial Suites. The luxury train which travels across Russia from east to west is operated by Golden Eagle Luxury Trains.

The Trans-Siberian Express is operated between Moscow and Vladivostok on 15 day/14 night voyages. The train offers accommodation in three categories of cabins including Imperial Suites, Gold Class, and Silver Class. The suites are furnished with a King Size bed, dedicated seating area, dressing table, and large power shower.

All accommodation classes feature air-conditioning, wardrobe, and audio and video entertainment. Dedicated Bar/Lounge Cars and Dining Cars with onboard cabin attendants cater to the food and beverage needs of the passengers.

Royal Scotsman - $2,126 per night

The Scottish luxury train Royal Scotsman collects an average fare of $2,126 a night per individual for its 8 days/7 nights Grand Tour of Great Britain. Operated by Orient-Express Hotels, the train carries just 36 guests.

The Royal Scotsman features five state-room cars, two dining cars, one observation car, and a crew car. The sleeping cars are divided into 14 twin cabins, and two double and four single State Cabins. All rooms are furnished with lower beds, a dressing table, a full-length wardrobe, climate control, ceiling fans, opening windows as well as a private bathroom with shower, high-quality toiletries and amenities.

The open-deck observation carriage is furnished with comfortable sofa or armchair seating for passengers to relax and enjoy the spectacular sceneries of countryside and coast.

Rovos Rail Pride of Africa, South Africa - $2,075 per night

The Cape to Cairo trip on Rovos Rail Pride of Africa costs as high as $2,075 per night for single occupancy in the Royal Suites. The train offers weekly voyages between Pretoria and Cape Town and can carry maximum of 72 guests.

The luxury train constitutes sleeper coaches, a lounge car which can accommodate 26 guests, two 42-seat dining cars, a kitchen car, smoking lounge, an observation car, a staff car, and a generator car powered by a locomotive. Accommodation is provided in three categories - Royal Suites, Deluxe Suites and Pullman Suites.

All the suites are air-conditioned and feature twin or spacious double beds, and en-suite bathrooms furnished with elegant toiletries and hot showers.

Venice Simplon Orient Express, Europe - $1,900 per night

The Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE) luxury train operating across major European destinations is owned by Orient-Express Hotels. The train charges an average of $1,900 a night per person for its 6-day/5-night voyages between Paris-Istanbul and Istanbul- Venice making it one of the world's most expensive trains.

The VSOE has 17 elegantly styled first-class carriages for catering to 188 passengers onboard. Accommodation is provided in Cabin Suites and Double Cabins. Each Cabin Suite includes two interconnecting cabins which can be furnished with single beds or a lounge.

The Double Cabin is modified as lounge during day and can be converted into a bedroom during night time. The train's dedicated restaurant cars and the Bar Car offer set-menus, as well as drinks and à la carte menus at additional cost.

Eastern & Oriental Express, Asia - $1,583 per night

The Eastern & Oriental Express luxury train operating through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Laos charges an average of $1,583 per night for its 7-day/6-night voyages. It is a sister train to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

The luxury train's accommodations are categorised into Pullman Cabins, State Cabins and Presidential Cabins. The wood-panelled cabins with exquisite marquetry are furnished with beds, banquette-style sofa, en-suite shower and lavatory, and large observation windows.

The two Restaurant Cars onboard serve lunch and dinner, while breakfast, fruits, coffee, tea and juices are supplied to cabins daily. Cocktails, aperitifs and liquors are served by piano bar and a bar within the Observation Car. The train also features a saloon car and boutique.

Danube Express - $1,535 per night

The Danube Express is one of the expensive private luxury trains operating in Europe. The over-night stay in Deluxe Single En Suite of Danube Express costs as high as $1,535 per person. Also dubbed as "Hotel on Wheels, the train offers voyages for some of the most enticing destinations in the continent.

The Danube Express is made of four deluxe sleeping cars, a classic sleeping car, lounge car, a restaurant car, and staff car. The train carries 50 passengers in a variety of accommodation categories.

Each refurbished Deluxe sleeping coach incorporates five spacious air-conditioned en suite compartments featuring two comfortable lower beds, armchairs, cupboards, and a private bathroom with a shower, washbasin and water closet.

Royal Canadian Pacific - $1,442 per night

The average per person price for a single night of a Royal Canadian Pacific's six day/five night luxury rail cruise is $1,442 making it one of the world's most expensive journeys. The luxury train is operated by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

The Royal Canadian Pacific accommodates passengers in luxurious private staterooms. The train has three executive business cars and two sleeper cars offering 18 On-board Staterooms to accommodate 30 guests.

Each stateroom is furnished with three-piece private en-suite, single or double beds, Aveda amenities, bathrobes, in-room safe, and internal telephone.

Blue Train - $1,217 per night

The Blue Train collects a fare of $1,217 per day/night from a person for a luxurious two-day train journey between Pretoria and Cape Town. The expensive luxury train is operated by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR).

The Blue Train offers four voyages between popular destinations - Pretoria - Cape Town, Pretoria - Victoria Falls, Port Elizabeth - Cape Town, and Pretoria - Nelspruit. The train is composed of two lounge cars, dining car, an observation car/conference car, and passenger carriages.

Accommodation is offered in two luxury coaches and nine deluxe coaches. Each suite served by a butler is incorporated with custom-designed beds, an en-suite bathroom with bathtub or shower, a telephone, television, and air condition system. The dining car serves local cuisine, while the Elegant bar offers a collection of beverages.

Indian Pacific - $1,198 per night

Indian Pacific is an expensive luxury train operated by Great Southern Rail of Australia. The average per night fare for a person embarking on 4-day/3-night Sydney - Adelaide - Perth voyage costs $1,198.

The Indian Pacific covers a distance of 4,352km between Sydney and Perth. The train offers accommodation in three classes namely Platinum Service, Gold Service, and Red Service. It accommodates 88 guests in first class and 64 in economy class berths.

The private lounge style cabins of Platinum Service are furnished with twin or double bed, a shower, vanity with ample cupboard space, mirror, toilet facilities, and an in-cabin safe. All onboard meals and beverages are served by personalised cabin steward service.

Prices accurate as of March 2013 are subject to change.

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Elegance on the line - the world's most expensive trains

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The Maharajas' Express, which travels across North-West and Central India costs an average of $3,385 a night per passenger travelling in its Presidential Suite. Operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the train features 23 coaches and accommodates up to 88 guests.

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The United States has the world's longest railway network, followed by China and India. Railway-technology.com profiles the 10 largest railway networks in the world based on total operating length.

United States: 250,000km

The US rail network, with an operating route length over 250,000km, is the biggest in the world. Freight lines constitute about 80% of the country's total rail network, while the total passenger network spans about 35,000km.

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

A plan is in place to build a 27,000km national high speed rail system in four phases by 2030. Construction of the California high-speed rail, the country's first high-speed rail project, was well underway by the beginning of 2014. Three more high-speed projects including the Midwest high-speed rail line connecting Chicago with Indianapolis or St. Louis, Texas high-speed rail, and the Northeast High-Speed Corridor are under development.

China: 100,000km

China's rail network, with a route length of over 100,000km, ranks as the second biggest rail network in the world. The extensive network, operated by state-owned China Railway Corporation, carried 2.08 billion passengers (the second highest after Indian Railways) and 3.22 billion tonnes of freight (the second highest after the US railway network) in 2013.

Rail is the principal mode of transport in China. The country's rail network consists of over 90,000km of conventional rail routes and approximately 10,000km of high-speed lines. The total rail network of the country is targeted to exceed 270,000km by 2050.

The rapid expansion of China's high-speed rail network in recent years makes it by far the largest in the world. The 2,298km Beijing - Guangzhou high speed line is the world's longest high-speed railway line. The total length of China's high-speed rail network is projected to reach 50,000km by 2020.

Russia: 85,500km

Russia's whole network, operated by state-owned monopoly Russian Railways (RZD), runs for over 85,500km. In 2013, the network carried 1.08 billion passengers and 1.2 billion tonnes of freight - the third highest freight volume after the US and China.

The Russian railway network incorporates12 main lines, many of which provide direct connections to the European and Asian national railway systems such as Finland, France, Germany, Poland, China, Mongolia and North Korea. The Trans-Siberian Railway (the Moscow-Vladivostok line), spanning a length of 9,289km, is the longest and one of the busiest railway lines in the world.

RZD introduced the Sapsan high-speed rail service between St. Petersburg and Moscow in 2009, but it has not proved successful due to sharing existing lines with low-speed train operations. A dedicated high-speed corridor between the two cities has been planned with a proposed investment of $35bn. RZD expects to have 2,500km of high-speed rail between Moscow and Kiev, Minsk and Kursk by 2015.

India: 65,000km

The Indian nationwide rail network, the fourth longest in the world, is owned and operated by state-owned Indian Railways and includes an operating route length of more than 65,000km. The network carried about eight billion passengers (the highest in the world) and 1.01 million tonnes of freight (fourth highest in the world) in 2013.

The Indian railway network is divided into 17 zones and operates more than 19,000 trains per day, including 12,000 passenger trains and 7,000 freight trains. The national railway operator plans to add 4,000km of new lines by 2017, as well as significant gauge conversion, doubling and electrification of its existing aging lines. It also plans to add 3,338km of exclusive freight network by 2017 with the implementation of Eastern & Western Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC), two of the six identified dedicated freight corridors in India.

Six high-speed corridors have also been identified for implementation in the country. The 534km Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed link is being advanced as a pilot project with an estimated investment of $9.65bn.

Canada: 48,000km

Canada's 48,000km of rail lines makes its national network the fifth longest in the world. Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) are the two major freight rail networks operating in the country, while Via Rail operates the 12,500km intercity passenger rail service. Algoma Central Railway and Ontario Northland Railway are among the other smaller railways providing passenger services to certain rural areas in the country.

Three Canadian cities - Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver - have extensive commuter train systems. In addition, the Rocky Mountaineer and Royal Canadian Pacific offer luxury rail tours to view the scenic beauty of certain mountainous areas in the country.

Canada, however, does not have a single high-speed line on its railway network. Many high-speed lines such as Toronto-Montreal, Calgary-Edmonton and Montreal-Boston have been proposed, but none of these have progressed beyond preliminary studies as of January 2014.

Germany: 41,000km

State-owned Deutshe Bahn dominates Germany's 41,000km railway network, accounting for about 80% of the total freight traffic and 99% of the long-distance passenger traffic.

More than 150 private railway companies apart from Deutshe Bahn operate on the network, providing regional passenger and freight services. The S-Bahn serves major suburban areas, while the Hamburg Cologne Express (HKX) is the major long-distance passenger operator after Deutshe Bahn.

The German railway network had more than 1,300km of high-speed railway track operational as of mid-2013 and more than 400km of new high-speed line under construction. Deutshe Bahn opened high-speed services, under the name InterCity Express (ICE), for the first time in 1991. The high-speed network, operated at speeds up to 320km/h, now connects major German cities and neighbouring countries such as France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria.

Australia: 40,000km

The Australian railway network is the world's seventh longest at more than 40,000km. Most of the railway network infrastructure is owned and maintained by the Australian government either at the federal or state level. The majority of the trains on the network are, however, operated by private companies.

Aurizon (formerly QR National), Genesee and Wyoming Australia, and Pacific National are among the major freight operators on the network. Great Southern Railway, NSW TrainLink and Queensland Rail are the leading long-distance passenger rail operators. Metro Trains Melbourne, Sydney Trains, V/Line and Adelaide Metro operate commuter passenger services in major suburban areas. In addition, a number of private mining railways operate in the country.

The Australian railway network does not have a high-speed line yet. A high-speed rail network connecting Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne is proposed to be built with an estimated capital cost of $114bn, but the first phase of the 1,748km high-speed network will not be realised before 2035.

Argentina: 36,000km

Argentina's current rail network spanning over 36,000km in length ranks the eighth largest in the world. Argentina used to have about 47,000km of rail network at the end of the Second World War, mostly operated by British and French-owned railway companies. But the decline of profits and the rise of highway construction in the subsequent decades reduced the network to the 36,000km of line that exists today. The railway companies operating on the network were nationalised in 1948 with the creation of the state railroad corporation Ferrocarriles Argentinos.

The Argentinean railway was privatised between 1992 and 1995 with the grant of concessions to different private companies for operating six divisions of the formerly state-owned rail network. Cities such as Buenos Aires, Resistencia and Mendoza offer extensive suburban passenger services, as well as the long distance passenger lines in the country.

The much talked-about Argentine high-speed railway is not a reality yet. An announcement was made in 2006 to develop a 310km high-speed line between Buenos Aires and Rosario. The project was, however, not implemented as of 2013. A second high-speed line stretching 400km between Rosario and Cordoba has also been proposed.

France: 29,000km

At 29,000km, the French railway network is the second biggest in Europe and the ninth biggest in the world. The French railway network is predominantly passenger-centric and more than 50% of the country's lines are electrified. State-owned Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) is the principal railway operator in the country.

The country's high-speed long distance passenger services are known as Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) and the standard long-distance passenger services are branded Intercités. The short and middle distance passenger rail services are known as Transport Express Régional (TER). The network offers linkages to adjacent countries such as Belgium, Italy and the UK.

France was one of the early adopters of high-speed rail technology; SNCF brought into operation the TGV high-speed rail in 1981. The country's current high-speed network exceeds a length of 1,550km. The Tours-Bordeaux high-speed rail project, which is due for completion in 2017, will add another 302km into the network.

Brazil: 28,000km

The first railway line in Brazil became operational in 1984. The railway network was nationalised in 1957 with the creation of Rede Ferroviária Federal Sociedade Anônima (RFFSA). The country's railway network was divided into different services to be operated by a range of private and public operators by 2007.

The 28,000km network is predominantly freight-focussed and includes major iron ore rail lines. The country's passenger rail services are mostly concentrated in urban and suburban areas. Eight Brazilian cities have metro systems, São Paulo Metro being the biggest among them.

In 2012, the Brazilian government announced the construction of 10,000km of new lines comprised of freight and high-speed passenger lines by 2042. A 511km high-speed rail link between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro has been planned for development in the country, but the project is yet to take off.

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The United States has the world's longest railway network, followed by China and India. Railway-technology.com profiles the 10 largest railway networks in the world based on total operating length. The US rail network, with an operating route length over 250,000km, is the biggest in the world.

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Stockton & Darlington Railway | British railway | Britannica.com

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Stockton & Darlington Railway | British railway | Britannica.com

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica | View Edit History

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Stockton & Darlington Railway | History & Facts

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Stockton & Darlington Railway, in England, first railway in the world to operate freight and passenger service with steam traction. The first engine ran from Darlington to Stockton on September 27, 1825, traveling at a speed of 15 miles (24 km) per hour.

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Morning rush of Seibu in Tokyo

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ニンニク臭い桑の実ニャン吉

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【再開閉あり】朝ラッシュ 西武2000系2453F＋2003F 4306レ 準急西武新宿行 鷺ノ宮到着～発車まで

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The growing economies around the world are dependent on efficient and reliable means of transport. Countries will well-developed infrastructures are likely to have an edge over those with infrastructural challenges. One of the most reliable means of transportation is the rail transport. In developed countries such as the US and Japan, millions of passengers use trains daily to and from work. Major train stations have been put in place to meet the growing demand, with the existing stations adding concourse and lines to cope with the growing passenger demands. We discuss seven of the busiest stations in the world below.

7. Shinjuku Station - The World's Busiest Train Station

With over 3.6 million people passing through the station daily, Shinjuku Station in the city of Tokyo, Japan, is the busiest train station in the world in by passenger use. The station is the main hub for trains connecting special wards and Western Tokyo. Shinjuku Station has 36 platforms including above and underground arcades, over 200 exits, and several hallways. It consists of five stations including JR-East, Tokyo Metro, Odakyu, Toei Subway, and Keio Corporation. JR-East station is the busiest of the five stations, serving approximately one million people every day. Shinjuku Station was opened in 1885 and was one of the less trafficked stations in Japan. The opening of Keio and Odakyu Lines in 1915 and 1923 respectively led to increased traffic through the station.

6. Gare du Nord - The Busiest Train Station in Europe

Gare du Nord is the busiest train station in Europe by the number of passengers, serving approximately 214 million travelers every year. The station was first opened in 1846 with major expansions following. It was again reopened in 1864. With 44 platforms, it is considered the second largest train station in Europe by platform. It is serviced by three major transit systems including the Paris Metro transit system, the RER railway system, and other bus routes. Gare du Nord station has two lines with one line running from north to south of Paris. The station also serves international destinations such as Germany, the UK, Netherlands, and Belgium. A plan to construct hallway between it and Gare de I'Est in advance stages and will be completed once the LGV Est starts serving the station.

5. Howrah Junction Railway Station - The Busiest Train Station in India

Howrah Junction is the largest railway station in India, serving approximately 700 passengers daily. It is an intercity station that serves Kolkata and Howrah. Howrah Junction is situated in Howrah on the Hooghly River west bank and is directly connected to 1273 stations across India. The station was opened to the public in December 1905 and the first train left the station for New Delhi in 1969. Howrah Junction has 23 platforms with the first 15 platforms situated in the old complex commonly known as Terminal 1 while the rest of the platforms are located in the Terminal 2. Terminal 1 serves trains the local trains from Eastern and South Eastern Railway while Terminal 2 mainly serves the long-distance trains from South Eastern Railway.

4. Grand Central Terminal - the Busiest Train Station in the United States

The Grand Central station is situated on 42nd Street in New York City. It serves passengers traveling to Duchess, Westchester, and Putnam counties on Metro-North Railroad and also contains a connection to New York City subway. Approximately 750,000 people pass through the station every day, making it one of the busiest train stations in North America. The distinctive architecture and the interior design of the Grand Central Terminal have earned it a place in the US National Historic Landmark list. It is also one of the most frequented stations by a tourist with over 22 million people visiting the station in 2013 in addition to the passengers who used the station. Grand Central Station has 44 platforms and all the platforms are on the ground, serving 56 tracks. However, only 43 tracks are currently in use.

3. London Waterloo - the Busiest Train Station in the United Kingdom

London Waterloo is an important place of arrival and departure for commuters and holidaymakers. It is the largest station by floor area and the busiest station in Britain. London Waterloo is situated in the Waterloo area and connected the London Waterloo tube station. It was opened in 1848 to replace the Nine Elms. The station was rebuilt in the early 20th century to include the Victoria Arch at the entrance and reopened in 1922. London Waterloo has 130 automated ticket gate and 24 platforms. When combined with Waterloo tube station and the East Station, it becomes the busiest station in Europe, handling a total of 210 million passengers in 2015-2016. Several London buses stop at London Waterloo including 1, 26, 68, 176, 188, and RV1. Other buses also stop at the side of the station on Waterloo road.

2. Hamburg Hauptbahnhof - the Busiest Train Station in Germany

Hamburg Hauptbahnhof is a major railway station in Germany, serving Hamburg, Germany. It is considered a category 1 station by the Deutsche Bahn. The station was established in 1906 to replace 4 terminal stations. The station serves approximately 480,000 passengers every day and is operated by the DB Station and Service AG. It is also the third-busiest station in Europe after Gare du Nord and Gare de Chatelet, both in Paris. Hamburg Hauptbahnhof is a through station centrally located in Hamburg and connects long-distance Intercity-Express routes to the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, the two central intersections for two rapid transits in the city.

1. Flinders Street Railway Station - the Busiest Train Station in Australia

Flinders Street station is the busiest train station in Australia with over 92,000 passengers every day. It is located at Flinders and Swanton Street in Melbourne. The station serves the entire metro rail. Flinders Street Railway Station was the first railway station in an Australian city and the busiest station in the world in the 1920s. The main building was completed in 1909 and is currently a cultural icon in the country and is also listed in the Victorian Heritage Register. The famous saying in Melbourne, "I'll meet you under the clocks" is always refer to the clocks located on the main entrance. The clocks on the entrance indicate the train schedules for each line. The station also has wide staircases underneath the clock from which the phrase "I'll meet you on the step" is coined. Flinders Street Railway Station is also responsible for the busiest pedestrian crossing in Melbourne.

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7 of the Busiest Train Stations in the World

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The growing economies around the world are dependent on efficient and reliable means of transport. Countries will well-developed infrastructures are likely to have an edge over those with infrastructural challenges. One of the most reliable means of transportation is the rail transport.

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With an annual ridership of 3.334 billion in 2013, a 1.25% increase from the previous year, the Tokyo Subway is the world's busiest metro system. The 310km rapid transit network serves the Greater Tokyo area of Japan comprising of 13 lines and 290 stations. The metro system has two operators - Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway.

Tokyo Metro operates nine lines and 184 stations including Shinjuku Station, the world's busiest rail station. Toei Subway, owned by Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, manages four lines and 106 stations.

The metro's oldest line, the Ginza Line, dates back to 1927 when it was opened with the completion of a 2.2km section between Asakusa and Ueno by the Tokyo Underground Railway Company. The Toei subway network became operational in 1960 between Oshiage and Asakusa.

The Beijing Subway, the oldest metro system in China, recorded an annual ridership of 3.209 billion in 2013, about 30% higher than the previous year. Operating since 1969, the subway system owned by the city of Beijing has expanded to 17 lines and 232 stations covering 465km. The subway system currently boasts an average daily ridership of more than 10 million.

State-owned Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation operates 14 lines, whereas Beijing MTR Corporation, a public-private joint venture between Beijing Capital Group Co. and Hong Kong MTR Corporation, operates the remaining three lines.

The Beijing Subway had just two lines until 2001, but major investments were made to expand the subway after Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. It is planned for the metro rail network to cover 1,000km of track by 2020.

The Seoul Metropolitan Subway, the longest subway system in the world, had a total route length of 940km and an annual ridership of 2.619 billion in 2013, a 6.16% increase in passenger numbers on 2012. The subway system serves South Korea's capital city Seoul as well as the provinces of Incheon, Gyeonggi and northern Chungnam.

Seoul Subway is operated by multiple operators including Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation, Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, Korail, Incheon Transit Corporation, and other private rapid transit operators.

Seoul Subway became operational in 1974 and has since then expanded to 21 lines (including the Uijeongbu LRT and the recently opened Yongin Ever Line) to carry over seven million passengers a day.

Shanghai Metro, China's third urban rapid transit system to open after Beijing and Tianjin, witnessed an annual ridership of 2.5 billion in 2013, 10.18% higher than that in 2012. Daily ridership peaked at 9.381 million in April 2014.

The metro system, comprised of 13 lines and 330 stations, is operated by two companies, Shanghai Metro Operation Company and Shanghai Modern Rail Transit Company. Lines 1 and 2 are the busiest lines while People's Square station, with daily commuter traffic of 400,000, is the busiest station on the network. Line 13 is the least busy, carrying 51,000 passengers per day.

The Shanghai Metro is considered to be one of the fastest-growing rapid transit systems in the world and is planned to expand to 22 lines covering a total route length of 877km by 2020.

Moscow metro, Europe's busiest metro system, had an annual ridership of 2.491 billion in 2013, 1.1% higher than that of 2012. Comprised of 12 lines and 195 stations, it spans a total length of 325.9km and set a daily ridership record of 9.28 million in December 2013.

Opened in 1935, Moscow Metro was the first underground railway system in the former Soviet Union and is owned and operated by state-owned Moskovsky Metropoliten.

Apart from serving Moscow city, the metro system also connects to the neighbouring towns of Krasnogorsk and Reutov. Expansion works are underway, and over 155km of new lines and 75 stations expected to be added to the metro network by 2020.

The annual ridership of the Guangzhou Metro, which serves South Central China's largest city Guangzhou, increased by 11.35% over 2012 to reach 2.05 billion in 2013. The metro system, operated by state-owned Guangzhou Metro Corporation, set a record high daily ridership of 7.942 million passengers in May 2014.

The metro system, opened in 1997, spans 260.5km and consists of nine lines and 164 stations. China's first intercity underground metro line, the Guangfo Line which began operations in 2010 connecting Guangzhou and Foshan, is part of the Guangzhou Metro.
The total length of the metro route is expected to exceed 500km by 2017.

New York Subway, connecting four boroughs of the New York City including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, carried 1.708 billion passengers in 2013, a 2.83% increase from 2012.

The subway is owned by the City of New York and operated by the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and was opened first in 1904.

The subway system includes 34 lines and 468 stations including 60% underground stations. The busiest stations of the subway are located in Manhattan, one of the most populated boroughs of the New York City. Times Square - 42nd Street station, located under Times Square, alone has an annual ridership of 64 million.

Mexico City Metro, also called Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, the second largest metro system in North America after the New York City Subway, had an annual ridership of 1.685 billion in 2013, a 4.72% increase from 2012. It recorded a peak daily ridership of 4.4 million in 2012.

The 226.5km long metro system operated by Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC) serves 16 boroughs and 41 neighbourhood municipalities in the metropolitan area of Mexico City.

The metro system began operation in 1969 and currently consists of 12 lines and 195 stations, including 115 underground stations.

MTR Hong Kong, China

The annual ridership of Mass Transit Railway (MTR) serving the city of Hong Kong increased by 7.96% to 1.6 billion in 2013. The metro system peaked average weekday ridership of 4.43 million in August 2014.

Operated by public-private company MTR Corporation, Hong Kong Metro generated revenue of HK$39bn ($5bn) in 2013 becoming one of the world's most profitable metro systems.

Construction of the MTR Hong Kong began in 1967 and the first line was opened in 1979. The metro system, comprising of 82 stations on nine main commuter lines, spans 174.7km of track.

Paris Metro, the second busiest metro system in Europe after Moscow Metro, recorded an annual ridership of 1.541 billion in 2013, a 1.12% increase from 2012.

Opened in 1900 and operated by state-owned Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP), Paris Metro was designed by renowned French civil engineer Fulgence Bienvenüe and is one of the oldest urban transport systems in the world.

The metro system, also called Métropolitain, has a total route length of 205km serving 14 inner-city lines and 303 stations, most of which are underground.

Three lines (Line - 4, 12 and 14) are being extended and are due to open by 2019, while further extensions are also being planned for other lines.

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With an annual ridership of 3.334 billion in 2013, a 1.25% increase from the previous year, the Tokyo Subway is the world's busiest metro system. The 310km rapid transit network serves the Greater Tokyo area of Japan comprising of 13 lines and 290 stations. The metro system has two operators - Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway.

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Picture of railroad crossing for introduction

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Picture of Train Crash