A Tour of the World’s Oldest Railways Still in Operation
From The Observatory
Railways have been essential to the growth of human society, evolving from horse-drawn carts to powerful steam and electric trains. Many of the oldest train routes in the world are still in use today, carrying passengers and goods across different countries and landscapes.
The Stockton and Darlington Railway in England, opened in 1825, was the first public railway to use steam locomotives. It helped transport coal more cheaply and quickly, boosting industry and travel. In Africa, the Ethio-Djibouti Railway, finished in 1917, connected landlocked Ethiopia to the sea, making trade and travel easier and helping cities grow.
In the United States, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began operations in 1830. It helped compete with canals and played a key role in industry and even in the Civil War by moving troops and supplies. France’s first passenger railway, the Paris–Saint-Germain line, opened in 1837 and started the idea of suburban commuting, which changed how people lived and worked near big cities.
South America’s oldest railway is the Buenos Aires Western Railway, launched in 1857. It connected Buenos Aires with surrounding areas, helping to move agricultural goods and modernize the region. Russia’s Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest in the world, was completed in 1916 and linked Moscow to the Pacific coast, transforming Siberia by opening it to trade and settlement.
Japan’s Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the world’s first high-speed rail, started in 1964. It connected Tokyo and Osaka, greatly reducing travel time and inspiring high-speed trains worldwide. Australia’s Sydney–Parramatta Railway, opened in 1855, was the country’s first and helped connect growing towns with markets and ports.
These historic railways shaped economies, cities, and societies. Even today, they remind us how trains helped build the modern world by moving people and goods across vast distances faster than ever before.
Read the full article “A Tour of the World’s Oldest Railways Still in Operation” by John Divinagracia
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
