🌏 Asia

0 countries with railway stations.

Asia is home to the world's most ambitious and technologically advanced railway systems. China operates the planet's largest high-speed rail network, with over 42,000 km of dedicated lines connecting hundreds of cities at speeds up to 350 km/h. Japan's Shinkansen, which began operations in 1964, pioneered modern high-speed rail and today carries over 420 million passengers annually with a safety record of zero fatal accidents. South Korea's KTX links Seoul to Busan in two hours and twenty minutes, while Taiwan's High Speed Rail covers the length of the island in ninety minutes. India's railway network is the largest in Asia by total route length, with Indian Railways carrying over eight million passengers daily across 68,000 km of track. The country is rapidly expanding its Vande Bharat semi-high-speed trains and building its first bullet train line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad using Shinkansen technology. The Trans-Siberian Railway, stretching 9,289 km from Moscow to Vladivostok, passes through Central and East Asia and remains one of the great long-distance railway journeys in the world, taking approximately seven days to complete. Southeast Asia is investing significantly in rail infrastructure, with Laos opening its first railway in 2021 connecting to China, Thailand expanding its high-speed network, and Vietnam planning a major North-South high-speed line. The diversity of rail experiences across Asia — from bullet trains racing past Mount Fuji to heritage mountain railways in Sri Lanka — makes the continent an exceptional destination for rail travelers.

China's high-speed rail network exceeds 42,000 km — more than the rest of the world combined.

Japan's Shinkansen has operated since 1964 with zero passenger fatalities across billions of journeys.

Indian Railways transports approximately 8 million passengers per day, making it the world's largest single-day rail passenger carrier.

The Trans-Siberian Railway at 9,289 km is the longest single continuous railway line in the world.

South Korea's KTX reduced the Seoul-Busan travel time from four and a half hours to two hours and twenty minutes when launched in 2004.

Countries

Frequently Asked Questions

Shinkansen tickets can be purchased at JR ticket offices (Midori no Madoguchi) at major stations, from ticket vending machines, or through the JR app. Foreign visitors often buy a Japan Rail Pass before arriving, which covers unlimited Shinkansen travel on most lines (excluding the Nozomi and Mizuho services). Booking is not required but recommended for reserved seats on busy routes.
China's high-speed rail is increasingly accessible to international visitors. Tickets can be booked through the Trip.com platform or at station ticket windows with a passport. Major stations have English signage and announcements. The Beijing-Shanghai route, for example, takes under five hours and costs a fraction of an equivalent flight.
Japan Rail Pass is the most well-known, available for 7, 14, or 21 days. South Korea offers the KR Pass for foreign visitors. India offers Indrail Passes for unlimited travel across the network. For multi-country travel, there is no single pan-Asian pass, so country-specific passes or individual tickets are the standard approach.
Yes, though it requires careful planning. The most common overland route runs through Russia via the Trans-Siberian or Trans-Mongolian railways. You can travel from London to Beijing in approximately 12 to 14 days using a combination of Eurostar, German ICE, Polish and Russian long-distance trains, and the Trans-Mongolian service via Ulaanbaatar.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India (UNESCO World Heritage Site) winds through tea gardens at altitudes over 2,000 meters. The Kandy-Ella line in Sri Lanka passes through misty highlands and is considered one of the world's most beautiful rail journeys. Japan's Hokkaido routes traverse vast winter landscapes, and the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in China climbs to 5,072 meters above sea level.
For distances under 600 km between city centers, high-speed rail is typically faster and more convenient than flying in Japan, South Korea, and China. For longer distances or cross-border travel, flying is generally quicker but lacks the city-center to city-center convenience and scenic experience of rail.