The history…
Opened in 1883, the Malta Railway was as ambitious as it was unlikely.
It was just seven miles long, passing through a sparsely populated rural landscape with long sections tunnelled through solid rock. It had eleven stations, all served by ten hard working little locomotives.
Until it closed in 1931, the Malta Railway was a cherished feature of life on the island. From its foundation as a private company, to its revival under Government ownership, and its final demise in the face of fierce competition, find out about this unique and special aspect of Maltese history.
in detail
Discover
Delve deeper into key topics exploring the building of the railway, the unique stations, or the steam engines that ran the line. If you’re eager to find out more, there’ll be something of interest here.
Explore the interactive map
Follow the line from Valletta to Mdina discovering stations, photographs, and lost landmarks along the way.
With so much of the railway lost or hidden below modern Malta this is a great way to trace its route and get your bearings. Each point of interest is illustrated with archival images and with a brief description to help you enjoy your journey along the line.
Reconstructing the Malta Railway
A series of digital scale models meticulously resurrect some of the lost stations.
So much has changed since the closure of the railway in 1931, it’s difficult now to imagine trains steaming through towns and countryside. Based on drawings, photographs, and original research, these models aim to bring the past to life.
why not visit…
The Malta Railway Museum
Opened in November 2023 and run by the Malta Railway Foundation, the museum is located in the former Birkirkara station building. Surrounded by the lush station gardens, it houses collections of historic artefacts, models, and the railway’s only surviving railway carriage. Explore the museum in 3D here.
the station building
Built in 1910, experience one of the best preserved of the surviving stations.
the galleries
Join one of the knowledgeable volunteers through the collection of original artefacts and scale models.
the carriage
Built for the opening of the railway in 1883, this is the last survivor and a highlight of any visit.
the gardens
The famous station gardens begun in the Victorian Era are now a park, with many original features preserved.
Open weekly Tuesdays from 9:30am to 3pm & Wednesdays from 4pm to 7:30pm. 1st Saturday of each month 9:30-12:30pm
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COMING SOON…
All that remains…
Although it closed in 1931, there are many reminders of the railway scattered through Malta between Valetta and the ancient capital of Mdina.
Contact
This website is run by David Martyn, a Malta Railway enthusiast since childhood. It has no affiliation with The Malta Railway Foundation, but shares it’s ambitions to promote knowledge and study of the lost railway and preserve what remains.
Most photographs used on these pages are acquired from the internet with credit given where known, or from the author’s collection. If you believe any to be your copyright please contact me.
Credit is due to the National Archives of Malta who have made digital images available through their collections website and without whom much research for this website would have been impossible. www.arkivji.org.mt
Thanks to to members and volunteers of the Malta Railway Foundation for rekindling my interest and supporting my research.
