What are the shortest train tracks?

The Shortest Railways in the World
  • The Angel's Flight, USA. With a rather beautiful name, found in the razzle and dazzle of Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, the Angel's Flight is regarded by many as the shortest railway in the world. ...
  • Stourbridge Town line, England. ...
  • The Vatican, Italy. ...
  • Princeton Branch or Dinky, USA.




The title for the "shortest train tracks" in 2026 belongs to a few specialized systems depending on how you define a "railway." The Angels Flight Railway in Los Angeles is frequently cited as the world's shortest, spanning just 298 feet (91 meters) on a steep incline in Bunker Hill. It is a funicular that has operated since 1901. On a national level, the Vatican City State Railway is the shortest national railway system in the world; while it has a total of 1.27 km of track, only about 300 meters of it actually lies within the Vatican's borders. In 2026, the Fisherman’s Walk Cliff Lift in Bournemouth, UK, also competes for the title of the shortest public funicular at roughly 128 feet. For "standard" heavy rail, the Stourbridge Town Branch Line in England is one of the shortest commercial lines, covering just 0.8 miles from end to end. These tiny tracks serve vital roles in urban transit and tourism, proving that a railway's impact isn't always measured in miles.

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Stourbridge Town line, England Far down in the deep green forests of the West Midlands in England lies what claims to be the shortest railway branch line in Europe. The Stourbridge Town line measures a titchy 0.8 miles long with a mere two stops, travelling from Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Junction.

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