Is Russia Starting a Train From Moscow to India for Goods Trade?

Russia is exploring a railway route to connect with India through Central Asia, but major political and security challenges remain.

Russia has proposed a new idea that could change how goods are transported to India in the future. On 6 August 2026, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said Russia should explore the possibility of building a railway connection towards the Indian Ocean.

Russia has wanted access to the Indian Ocean since 1947 because it is important for trade and defence. Khusnullin suggested that a possible railway route could pass through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before connecting to India. He also said that other possible routes could be explored.

Many people may wonder why the railway cannot be built directly between China and India. The main reason is the Himalayas, which make railway construction extremely difficult.

However, Russia has not approved or started building such a railway. Khusnullin's statement was only about exploring whether the project is possible.

He also said Russia is looking at alternative transport routes because important sea routes, including the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, can sometimes face disruptions.

This idea is linked to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), an existing trade project involving India, Russia and Iran. The INSTC is not a single railway. Instead, it combines ships, trains and roads to help goods move more easily between the participating countries.

A railway connecting Russia and India would require huge investments, new infrastructure and agreements between several countries. It would also face major challenges, including security concerns in Afghanistan and the difficult relationship between India and Pakistan.

For now, the proposal remains an idea under discussion, but it shows that Russia and India are continuing to explore new ways to strengthen trade and transport links.

 

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