Top 8 Most Dangerous Rail Routes of the World

It is said that nature is all powerful and supreme. However, the man tries his level best to overcome this supremacy of nature since his birth. When one sees certain structures built by man, it makes one realize of this very same competition between him and nature. One of such structures is various train routes. 

Man's need to commute made him develop trains and thus various routes. Here are the top 10 most dangerous routes that remind us of the Supreme Nature and the Clever Man's tussle. 

List of most dangerous rail routes of the world

Argo Gede Train Railroad:

This one runs from Jakarta to Bandung and is a three hour ride full of adventures. 

The major route it takes is the high Cikurutug Pylon Trestle bridge in Indonesia. The passengers get the view of the deep subtropical valley. It is scary but a great experience from a traveler's point of view. 

Chennai Rameswaram Rail Route of India:

This train route was built over the sea to make it easier for people to access Rameswaram island. It opened in 1914 and crosses 2065 metres of sea. The bridge is called Padman bridge and is one of the Indian Engineering marvels. 

White pass and Yukon Route, Alaska:

This is the connecting route of the port of Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon.This rail route is said to ‘cling to cliffs’ which is actually real in case one visits the place. This route was built in 1898 at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Now-a-days this route is only used for tourism purposes. It is a wonderful experience and is one of the most dangerous rides.

Devil's Nose, Ecuador: 

Nariz del Diablo, also called Devil's Nose Train, is located in the Andes. It is 900o feet above sea level which makes this train route the most difficult among all. It is one of the scariest rides in the world. The government has built a zigzag railway that covers a 500 meter hilly area in less than 12 km.

Aso Minami Route, Japan:

This railroad track has its way in the most active volcanic regions of Japan. The riders of this train are unaware of when the volcano may erupt next here. At times one can also see the lava burned in the forests closer to the tracks.  Take a look at the volcano below

Salta-Polvorillo, Argentina:

This train route itself took 27 years to complete. It is a network of zigzag tracks, 21 tunnels and 13 bridges. It offers a thrill to any person who rides this train. The track is located over 4200 m above the sea level and is called Tren a las Nubes. It is located close to the Chile border. 

The Death Railway, Thailand:

The Kanchanaburi Province located in the Thailand borders in Myanmar is where the death railway is situated. These track pass through some dangerous forests and the mountain terrain is quite troublesome. The track was named so after the Prisoners of War lost their lives while building it under the rule of Japan in World War II. The section of the bridge over the River Kwai is the most famous one. 

Pilatus Railway, Switzerland:

It is the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. It has a gradient of 48% and as you travel to the station, one is above 7000 feet of the sea level. The train travels through alpine meadows and mountains. 

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