Construction began on the 88km line from Atamyrat in Turkmenistan to Akina in Afghanistan in June 2013 and the line includes a 3km section in Afghan territory.

The line will ultimately form part of the of the Turkmenistan – Afghanistan – Uzbekistan railway, which will link Atamyrat with Panj in Turkmenistan via Andkhoy, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kunduz in Afghanistan.