photo: weichen_kh / Flickr/Maeklong Railway Market, Thailand
From markets split by railways to ocean-crossing bridges, these trains redefine adventurous travel. Discover the world’s most unusual and risky rail journeys.
Railways aren’t just straight tracks with occasional curves. Some trains pass through bizarre locations that are not only fascinating but often dangerous. Who would have thought that passengers in India need to dodge storms or that shoppers in Thailand must step aside when a train horn sounds?
The Pamban Bridge Over the Indian Ocean
The Pamban Bridge railway, opened in 1914, was India’s first maritime bridge. Located in Tamil Nadu, it connects the Indian mainland to the town of Rameswaram on Pamban Island. The route also includes the Manamadurai-Rameswaram line and is near the legendary Adam’s Bridge. However, trains face challenges such as strong coastal winds and rough waves.

The bridge stretches over 2 km, with tracks just 12.5 meters above sea level. Its construction involved 600 workers over two years. Built on the seabed of the Indian Ocean, it is supported by nearly 145 concrete pillars. A lift span in the middle allows small boats to pass underneath. As The Finacial Express reports, a while ago, India’s Ministry of Railways inaugurated a new Pamban railway bridge next to the old one, making it the country’s first vertical sea bridge.

Over the years, the bridge has faced numerous challenges, primarily due to its corrosive environment. In 1964, the Rameswaram cyclone devastated the area, causing massive waves that derailed a passenger train. According to The Economic Times, tragically, none of the passengers survived.
The Train to the Clouds in Salta, Argentina
This extraordinary train traverses Salta province in northwestern Argentina, climbing to an altitude of 4,220 meters above sea level. Known as the Train to the Clouds, it is a tourist railway that offers breathtaking views as it passes through a bridge 70 meters above the river, giving passengers the sensation of almost touching the clouds.
According to Condé Nast Traveler, the journey includes:
- 29 bridges,
- 21 tunnels,
- 13 viaducts,
- 2 loops, and
- 2 zigzags.
Passengers can enjoy stunning landscapes and unforgettable sightseeing experiences along the way.
Maeklong Railway Market
This unique market, located in Samut Songkhram province southwest of Bangkok, Thailand, offers fresh produce, vegetables, and fruit. Its standout feature? A railway track runs straight through the center of the market.

Just minutes before a train arrives, vendors pull back umbrellas and move goods away from the tracks. Some items remain on the ground as the train passes directly over them.
How does it all work? Hotels.com reports that as soon as people hear the train horn, they step back or duck into nearby shops. Although the train passes through the market slowly, shopping here remains a risky experience requiring constant vigilance.
Source: The Financial Express; The Economic Times; Condé Nast Traveler; Hotels.com