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Beware! These Dangerous Train Routes In The World Are Not For The Fainthearted

Dangerous Train Routes in the World

When you think of travelling by train, what comes to your mind? Beautiful landscapes, scenic villages, mighty mountains, glistening lakes and rivers, lush green trees, and so much more. Most of us definitely enjoy riding the trains, as the journey is as beautiful as the destination.

Train journeys also have the capability to satisfy the adventurer and the thrill seeker in you! But every ride has a flip side. There are so many train journeys across the world that, in spite of passing through pleasant and scenic landscapes also make you skip a heartbeat due to its dangerous routes. What makes these routes the most dangerous train routes in the world? Well, they pass through mountains and canyons, over old bridges, in the middle of the sea, and even a volcano! These train rides are once in a lifetime activity, which we highly suggest you should definitely do.

To understand how unique and beautiful these dangerous train journeys are, let’s have a look at them:

1. Chennai – Rameswaram Route, India

Pamban Bridge
Image Credit: aMiT pEnDsE

Train travelling across the Pamban Bridge on the Chennai – Rameshwaram route
Image Credit: Visakh M S

If you could pick one adventurous thing to include in your Chennai tour package, we highly suggest that you ride the Chennai – Rameswaram train route. The Chennai – Rameswaram railway route goes right above the sea for over 2 km. The trains run on Pamban Bridge, a cantilever bridge on the sea that connects the city of Chennai to the Rameswaram islands. Passengers traveling on this route can at times feel the sea water splashing on their faces and even the occasion wobbling of the bridge, which surely makes it one of the most dangerous train routes in India as well as the world. The Pamban Bridge also met with an accident in 1964, but, the modern security features and constant maintenance work makes it worth a visit to experience that adrenaline rush you crave for.

Also Read: Best Offbeat Locations to Explore In India In 2023

2. Argo Gede Train Railroad, Indonesia

Passenger Train Passing by the dangerous Cikubang Bridge – Longest and Oldest Active Train Bridge in Indonesia
Image Credit: Akhmad Dody Firmansyah

Scenic views surrounding the Cikubang Bridge
Image Credit: Akhmad Dody Firmansyah

Connecting the cities of Jakarta and Bandung , the Argo Gede Train Railroad is also recognised as one of the most dangerous train routes in the world. This 3-hour long journey over the sky-high Cikurutug Pylon Trestle Bridge (above the subtropical valley) is enough to stop your heart as the scare creeps in instantly. The bridge has no enclosures on either side making it even more dangerous. The great part is that you also get to witness some very beautiful places, tea plantations, and mountains which makes this dangerous journey somehow pleasing and worth including in your Indonesia tour package. The Indonesia visa is on arrival so you do not need to worry about the visa process. All you have to do is book your flight tickets to Indonesia.

3. Aso Minami Route, Japan

Rail bridge on the Aso Minami Route
Image Credit: India Times

When it comes to talking about the most dangerous train routes in the world, Japan surely takes the prize! Adrenaline junkies might already be rushing to get their Japan visa after reading that Japan has one of the few railway routes in the world that passes over a volcano! The Aso Minami route passes over the largest active volcano in Japan – Mount Aso! But it doesn’t end here, the trains on this route pass through a fragile iron bridge, which is unfenced and narrow and will surely scare your heart out no matter how many times you will travel by it. If you want to make your Japan holiday more adventurous, just get on a train passing through the Aso Minami route which connects Takamori and Tateno stations without thinking twice.

4. Georgetown Loop Railroad, USA

Georgetown Loop Railroad
Image Credit: Official Georgetown Loop Railroad Website

People assume that a US visa interview is scary, but it’s not! Especially with our tips to clear the US visa interview. On the other hand, riding the Georgetown Loop Railroad in Colorado is absolutely scary! It is an engineering marvel that was built to access the silver mines in the late 19^th century. A narrow-gauge track located in the Rocky Mountains and overlooking the terrifying deep valley will give you goose bumps throughout the journey. The Devil’s Gate High Bridge on this route is the scariest point on the route where the strong winds from all sides make it one of the most petrifying and dangerous train routes in the world. The train here runs painstakingly slow but also gives us a stunning view of the unique landscape of the Rocky Mountains.

5. White Pass and Yukon Route, USA

The popular White Pass &Yukon Route Railroad linking the port city with Whitehorse, Yukon, was built in 1898 during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Image Credit: lembi

Built at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898, the White Pass and Yukon Route in Alaska offers the best experience to all adventure-seeking rail fans. As one of the most dangerous train routes in the USA, it holds a prime spot in our USA tour packages. This narrow-gauge railroad clings to the side of the mountain and provides a perfect dose of adrenaline for thrill lovers. The White Pass and Yukon Route connects Skagway in Alaska to Whitehorse in Yukon and offers a breathtakingly stunning view of the Alaskan landscape.

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6. Tren a las Nubes, Argentina

Landscape view of La Polvorilla viaduct and the argentinian Puna (Tren de las Nubes or Train to the Clouds, San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta, Argentina)
Image Credit: revolucian

Can we all agree that the finale of the FIFA World Cup 2022 between Argentina and France kept us glued to our screens and on the edge of our seats? Just like the electrifying finale, Tres a las Nubes – a 217 km long stretch of railway track connecting Salta in Argentina to Polvorillo in Chile will keep you on the edge of your seat as well. The route has 21 tunnels, 12 massive bridges, and many zig-zag and spiral tracks that make the train ride akin to a roller coaster ride. This train route is also close to the Chile Border and gives you a pleasant view of high mountains and deep canyons making this train ride totally worth it! Don’t believe us? Apply for your Argentina visa and book your Argentina tour package now to experience it for yourself!

7. Kuranda Scenic Railroad, Australia

The Kuranda train passing through the rainforest close to a steep valley
Image Credit: Moshe EINHORN

Our Australia tour packages are filled with many scenic sites, including the Kuranda Scenic Railroad. Kuranda Scenic Railroad, as the name suggests, is one of the most beautiful railway routes in Australia that passes through the Barron George National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Now you might be wondering, why is it included in our list of most dangerous train routes in the world, right? Well, despite being beautiful, Kuranda Scenic Railroad has 15 tunnels, 93 hairpin bends, and over 40 bridges, it also passes through dense rainforests and rapid waterfalls all of which together help it secure its place in our list. Wish to ride this route? Then get your Australia visa now!

8. Devil’s Nose Train, Ecuador

Nariz del Diablo, Devil’s Nose – famous railroad track in the andes of Ecuador, so steep, it has to zig zag up the mountains with reversing into dead ends
Image Credit: Jens Otte

The Devil Nose Mountain
Image Credit: MarinaaaniraM

Thrill seekers, if you are looking for a thrilling trip, just book our Ecuador tour package and flight tickets to this South American nation to experience a thrill like never before. Located 9,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, the Devil’s Nose train passes through one of the most dangerous railway routes in the world. Also known as the Narizdel Diablo (Devil), the route connects the parts of the northern coast to Quito and continues to Cuenca. The route has cliffs, steep mountain sites, and hairpin bends, along with old tracks and trains making it one of the most dangerous train routes in the world.

9. The Death Railway, Thailand

Train rides on Death Railway in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand.
Image Credit: Drone Thailand

With an easy Thailand visa process and affordable Thailand tour packages, Thailand is one of the top favourite vacation destinations in the world. This exciting country is also home to the Death Railway – A 415 km long railway route connecting Bang Pong in Thailand to Thanbuzayat in Myanmar. It was built to carry troops and weapons in World War II and got its name from the lost lives of POWs during the war. Owing to its high-altitude cliff tracks, mountainous and dense forest terrain, and the treacherous part over the Kwai River, the Death Railway made it to our list of the most dangerous train routes in the world.

Also Read: Top 10 fascinating experiences to enjoy when you visit Thailand

10. Bamboo Train, Cambodia

Railway line of the Bamboo Train near the city centre of Battambang in Cambodia.
Image Credit: amnat30

The Bamboo Train, also called ‘Norry’, is used for local travel and tourism in Cambodia. No wonder, it is one of the top ten things to do during your Cambodia holiday. Located in Battambang, the Bamboo Trains are handmade carts that are propelled on the old tracks that will remind you of being on some adventurous roller coaster ride. This route allows you to enjoy the beautiful Cambodian countryside. It is open between 8 AM to 7 PM every day. So, what’s keeping you from applying for your Cambodia visa?

These journeys are a perfect travel option for all the rail fans who not only love trains but are also looking for their next adrenaline kick. They are perfect for those who love adventures and want to take them up a notch on any occasion that they can find.

We have always compared the train journey to our lives and so many quotes out there often use train journeys as a metaphor for life. But after going on these dangerous train journeys, which will undoubtedly make you feel more alive, what quote will you use to describe your life? Drop in a comment and let us know!

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