Russia to India by Train? Moscow Floats Ambitious Railway Route Through Central and South Asia

An overland trade route directly linking Russia with India through railways has the potential of becoming an emerging trade route in Eurasia if current discussions taking place in Moscow concerning this ambitious idea take shape beyond the level of talks.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said it was necessary to study the possibility of creating a railway corridor towards the Indian Ocean as an alternative to vulnerable sea routes.

The route may pass through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before arriving to the Indian Ocean and perhaps India. However, this idea is still in its infancy and not yet a railway project.

What is Russia-India Railway Route?

Russia is seeking ways to increase overland connectivity with South Asia and decrease dependence on sea routes that can be affected by geopolitical tensions.

Khusnullin said that it was necessary to study the possibility of building a railway route from Russia to the Indian Ocean with a possibility to connect through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This railway route will in the future give the possibility for overland transportation of cargo from Russia to India, offering an alternative to traditional sea routes.

The significance of the idea is in linking the major regions of Russia, Central Asia and South Asia through one railway system.

Why is Russia Exploring Other Options Than the Strait of Hormuz?

One of the main reasons why this proposal has emerged is the strategic issue of maritime chokepoints, primarily the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the critical energy corridors of the world. A lot of oil and liquefied natural gas supplies travel via this waterway and any disruption in it could affect energy supplies, cost of shipping and international business.

The reason behind the Russian exploration of alternatives is the need to avoid any potential disruptions from such choke points in the future.

A safe overland connection will provide Russia with the option of reaching its destination in case of high shipping costs, risks and disruptions.

Possible Route of the Overland Connection from Russia to India

The particular path that is being considered by Russia is quite difficult as it will have to pass through several different states with different infrastructure and political conditions.

It can be Russia → Turkmenistan → Iran → Afghanistan → Pakistan → India.

The part through Central Asia and Iran can be a connection between the existing Eurasian network of Russia with those leading towards the Indian ocean.

But the part further on from Afghanistan and Pakistan will increase the problems for Russia. The connection through railways will require compatibility of the railway system and many other issues to be addressed.

What Benefits Can the Rail Corridor Bring to India and Russia?

An overland link can open up an alternative route to access India’s market for Russia. This route could help cut down the use of marine transportation for certain types of goods.

For India, improved rail transportation could provide opportunities for diversification of trade routes with Russia and other countries located in Eurasia.

The rail corridor would be especially helpful for cargo that includes industrial goods, machinery and other items for which the predictable nature of the land transportation gives preference over longer and costlier maritime routes.

At the same time, however, maritime transportation would still remain a more economic way to ship many bulk goods, thus the construction of new railways could mean an additional transport link rather than a replacement of existing sea corridors.

Challenges Associated with the Implementation of the Proposed Route

Making the project a reality would be quite challenging.

First, there is an issue of the lack of infrastructure. In order to build a continuous rail freight link, there would need to be significant investment in tracks, terminals, border facilities, logistics centers and customs infrastructure.

Second, there is a question of coordination between the parties to the route. Transporting goods by rail across several countries would require certain agreements covering transit rights, customs procedures, tariffs, security and other issues.

In addition, security is another important aspect of any railway linking India and Russia via Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Finally, the project should be economically justified.

Russia’s Larger Transportation Plan

The new plan of linking Russia to the Indian Ocean is part of a larger strategy by Russia to create alternative international transportation corridors.

In an era where geopolitics is changing global commerce, there is an increase in countries searching for transportation corridors which will make them less dependent on single seaborne choke points or logistics chains.

Russia has already shown more interest in enhancing rail and multimodal transportation within the region. Such a link to the Indian Ocean may, therefore, prove to be strategically vital.

Is Russia Really Planning to Construct a Railway Line to India?

No, not at all. The rail corridor connecting Russia to India is still just a proposal and nothing concrete has been mentioned by Moscow yet.

There is still no clear timeline of its implementation.