Railways in Jute
Numerous railways have historically existed in Jute, with a number of them still in use. At its biggest extent, the railway system on Jute (vaaki a kaunkatonat a Jute) had two main lines and several branch lines. Most numerous were those going to various harbors, however the majority of them has been given up after the colonial era. A few remain, and the two main lines are still in use, too, as in the absence of streets that persists to this day railways have been proven to be the fastest and most important way of carrying goods on land across the island.
Neviran-built railways
During the colonial regime of Nevira, the first railway lines were constructed on the island of Jute. The Sitti-South Sitti, later expanded to Helele, was the first line, followed by the Sitti-Joonen line. A number of branch lines, mostly in Sitti, but also in Joonen and Helele, were constructed to allow freight trains to collect above all jute fiber for export from various locations and to carry it to the various harbors where it could be loaded into ships and transported to other countries. Imported goods, especially such staples as rice and corn, were also transported from the harbor by train to the storage sites of different towns.
The main lines remained in use after the end of the colonial period in 1872. As a result, Sitti became the main railway hub of the island, and as the biggest city on the island, also has by far the most stations within city limits. However, with the end of colonization by Nevira also came at first a decline in trade and resources to maintain the railway system, and most branch lines were given up, with only one in central Sitti remaining, connecting to the Free Harbor. It has the only bulk goods terminal of the island and is therefore crucial for exports and imports. In the other ports, cargo is processed on the spot or distributed using large cargo bicycles that require several drivers.
Balakian-built railways
The Balak Empire was the other major funder of railway construction on the main island of Jute, starting at the end of the 19th century following the ratification of the Treaty of Sitti and Balakia in 1874.
Numudu-Sitti railway
This main line connecting the two most important port cities of the island was built first and remains in operation to this day. However, most smaller branch lines used by harbors and industrial sites have been abandoned.
Numudu branch lines
The Balak Empire also created a small commuter rail network, with a green line running alongside the main line calling at stations the latter doesn't (save for a couple which all trains call at), and a yellow line going further inland and linking to a railway to Samuru. Additionally, branch lines at the harbor were built, similar to those in Sitti.
After the collapse of the Balak Empire, the commuter rail network was scrapped, with the green line repurposed as a local route along the same track just like the railway in Sitti, albeit with not all of the original stations surviving. The branch lines in the harbor were also given up, as trade with Balakia was significantly reduced.
Numudu and Samuru Railway
The Numudu and Samuru Railway was a railway connecting the Jutean cities of Numudu and Samuru, the former being under Balak administration. The main Samuru branch opened to passengers in [year] as part of the Balak Empire's initiative to modernise Jute's infrastructure, but faced difficulties both during and after construction as a result of native Samwati resistance, difficult terrain, and a lack of passenger numbers. A branch line diverging southwards to a Balak supply base on an island in Lake Samwati was also constructed. Passenger services were withdrawn from the railway in 1945 due to coal shortages emerging from a focusing of resources into the Great Ekuosian War, with the main Samuru branch being closed completely at this time; the Lake Samwati branch remained open to lingering goods traffic and passenger traffic from the seaplane base in the lake, however in the wake of Balak withdrawal from Jute during the dissolution of the Balak Empire in the 1950s this was reduced further. The supply base ceased to be maintained, and some years later the bridge to it collapsed. However, the remaining branch line is still in use to service the seaplane base in Lake Samwati.