Iraq Railways
Iraq is not the most popular tourist destination at the moment. But trains are running again between Baghdad and Basra, the main city on the Gulf, equipped with air-conditioning and sleepers.
Baghdad - Basra train schedule & fares
Useful country information
Baghdad to Basra
An overnight train links Baghdad with Basra every day. The distance by rail is 541 km (336 miles).
Check these times when you buy your ticket as Iraq Railways has no website and they may change from time to time (feedback appreciated).
You must be at the station 1 hour before departure for mandatory luggage check.
How much does it cost?
You can pay for 2 tickets in a 2-bed sleeper if you want sole occupancy.
How to buy tickets
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There is no online booking, you must buy tickets at the station.
Tickets are only sold on the day of travel, at Baghdad station the ticket office is open 09:00-19:00 with a break for lunch.
If you want a sleeper go along early, ideally at 09:00. Be prepared for a bag search on entry to the station. They'll need to see your passport and visa. Payment is by cash or MasterCard, but take cash in case their card machine isn't working. Feedback is appreciated.
Traveller's report
Traveller Ben Buckland travelled Baghdad to Basra in 2025: "Entering the station is a bit of a faff - you can only enter from the little gatehouse at the southeast corner and the guard there will manually search all your luggage then make you leave your bags there while you go in to buy a ticket. The ticket office is open from 09h00 to 19h00 although they may take a break in the middle of the day. You can only buy tickets on the same day as travel, so if you want a sleeper, then it is recommended to go at 9 when they open to get a spot. The ticket office claims to ONLY accept MasterCard but when I went their machine wasn’t working, so they accepted payment in cash - I’d recommend coming with both options, just in case. They will also want to see your passport and visa when you buy your ticket."
"When you return to take your train at 18h30, they shoo everyone onto the platform and everyone puts their luggage in two long lines: one line for any food and one for bags. Then a sniffer dog comes and checks all the bags. Afterwards you can get your bags and get on the train. When I took it, the train left right on time and arrived in Basra at exactly 06h00 the next morning. There aren’t snacks or drinks for sale on the train but there is a shop which sells most things at the station and, because it is Iraq and incredibly hospitable, everyone in the carriage will invariably come and try to offer you tea and other snacks anyway. The trains are very comfortable. Air conditioned and clean. The staff were also really nice and friendly. The only other thing worth knowing is that the station authorities are very wary of people taking photos in the station or on the platforms. So if you’re doing that be discreet. Once you’re on the train, it is no problem."
Traveller Andrew Palmer travelled Basra to Baghdad in 2024: "I was only able to buy a ticket on the day of the journey, and only at the station itself. I tried to buy a ticket a couple of days in advance at the station but it wasn't possible. While waiting at the platform, everyone's bags were set in a row along the middle of the platform and finally a sniffer dog was taken to sniff at all the bags around 7pm. The train left the station at 7:30pm. The berths were reasonably clean. There is AC, pillows, blankets and a couple of electricity outlets in the compartment. There is a dining car where you can get cheap kebabs, tea, chocolate and Pepsi. The train arrived in Baghdad at 6am. Luggage was again assembled on the platform where it was checked."
What is the train like?
The train is currently a Chinese-built air-conditioned train with a power car at each end, featuring 4-berth sleepers, a handful of 2-berth sleepers, ordinary seats and a buffet car. The train was only built in 2015, although dust from the desert takes its toll and you'll find some windows cracked from children throwing stones. The sleepers are in 4-berth compartments, the sleeping-cars are locked off from the seats part of the train.
Baghdad station
Baghdad Central station was built 1949-1953, designed by British architect JM Wilson, who had been an assistant to Lutjens in New Delhi. See station location map.
More information
If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!