Did You Know Malta Once Had a Train? Here’s Why It Failed

It may come as a surprise, but Malta once had a fully operational railway, complete with steam trains, stations, and even first-class carriages.

The Malta Railway first opened in 1883 and ran from Valletta to Mdina a distance of roughly 12 kilometres. It was built to help people travel more quickly between the old capital (Mdina) and the new one (Valletta). Before the railway, most people travelled by horse or on foot.

According to The Malta Railway, there were 11 stations, each of the 11 stations had its own individual character.

However, the Maltese people faced different challenges at the time. For one, Malta is a small island, and not many residents needed to travel long distances by train. Secondly, the railway couldn’t carry goods as efficiently as boats or carts. And thirdly, a new form of transport was beginning to take over: buses.

Buses were cheaper than train fares, could change routes more easily, and didn’t require railway tracks. As a result, more people began choosing buses over trains.

After years of financial difficulties and declining passenger numbers, the railway made its final journey in 1931. The service was closed permanently, and the tracks were removed.

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