Iran’s tripartite plan to develop railway lines to Afghanistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan
DID Press: In order to strengthen regional connections and develop economic cooperation with its neighbors, Iran has launched three new plans to launch international passenger trains. These lines are set to connect Iran to Afghanistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan.
According to Khaama Press, Jabarali Zakeri, CEO of Iran Railways and Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, announced that one of the important projects in this plan is the launch of a direct train between Tehran and Ankara, which is designed based on the current Tehran-Van route and will be put into operation within the next two months.
The second route will connect Tehran and Mashhad to Herat city in western Afghanistan. In the first phase, this line will continue to the Rozanak area near Herat, and after the completion of a 70-kilometer route by Iranian companies, a direct connection with Herat will be established. The operation of this line is subject to final agreements on travel documents between the two countries.
The third railway line will connect Mashhad to Merv city in Turkmenistan, a route that, according to Zakiri, can strengthen Iran’s ties with Central Asian countries and provide new routes for trade and tourism.
Zakiri emphasized that these three routes will not only boost the tourism industry, but will also play a key role in increasing trade exchanges and strengthening Iran’s regional ties. He added that by fully utilizing this railway network, the ground will be prepared for connecting Iran to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
In addition to these projects, the Khaf-Herat railway line, which is 225 kilometers long, has been under construction since 2007, of which 78 kilometers are in Iran and 147 kilometers are in Afghanistan. So far, three sections of this project, 140 kilometers long, have been completed by Iran, and the remaining 85 kilometers are under Afghanistan responsibility.
The Khaf-Herat railway is part of a strategic route connecting China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, the Persian Gulf, and ultimately Europe; A route that will turn Iran into one of the main regional transportation hubs. According to officials, this project will be completed by the end of this year.