Which country has the world’s shortest national railway?

Vatican City has the world’s shortest national railway.

The Vatican railway is a short standard-gauge line connected to Italy’s railway network through a gate in the Vatican’s wall. The track inside Vatican City is only a few hundred metres long, making it the shortest national railway system in the world.

Construction followed the Lateran Treaty of 1929, which established Vatican City as an independent state and provided for railway access. The line was completed in the early 1930s, but regular passenger use has always been limited compared with ordinary national railways.

The railway is sometimes mistaken for a separate metro or tram system. It is a conventional railway connection, mainly used for special trains, freight and ceremonial services. Vatican City’s small size means the line is more a legal and logistical connection than a public urban transport network.