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Railway of Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran railway 2020
Operation
National railwayRahahane Jomhorie Eslamiye Iran
Template:Lang-fa
Major operatorsRAI, Tooka rail, Samand rail,
Statistics
Ridership21 million
Passenger km13 billion
Freight31 million tonnes
System length
Total12,998 kilometres (8,077 mi)
Double track1426 km
Electrified146 km
Track gauge
Main1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification
Main25 kV 50 Hz AC
Features
No. tunnels105
Tunnel length120 km
Longest tunnel3000 m
No. bridges350
Longest bridge750 m
No. stations360
Highest elevation2500 m
Lowest elevation-20 m

Part of a series on
Rail transport
Infrastructure
Service and rolling stock
Special systems
Miscellanea
icon Transport portal

The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (abbreviated as IRIR, or sometimes as RAI) (Template:Lang-fa, Rāhāhan-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Irān) is the national state-owned railway system of Iran. The Raja Passenger Train Company is an associate of the IR,[1] and manages its passenger trains. The Railway Transportation Company is an associate of the IR, which manages its freight transport. The Ministry of Roads & Urban Development is the state agency that oversees the IRIR. Some 33 million tonnes of goods and 29 million passengers are transported annually by the rail transportation network, accounting for 9 percent and 11 percent of all transportation in Iran, respectively (2011).[2]

History

Qajar dynasty

See also: Tehran – Rey Railway
Narrow-gauge railway Tehran – Rey

In 1886, during the time of Nasser-al-Din Shah, an 8.7 km 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge horse-driven suburban railway was established south of Tehran, which was later converted to steam. This line was closed in 1952. The First Iranian railway was set up in 1887 between Mahmudabad and Amol; its construction was completely private. However it was not used because of several problems.[3][4] The Tabriz–Jolfa line (146 km) was built in 1914, the Sufiyan–Sharafkhaneh line (53 km) in 1916, and the Mirjaveh–Zahedan line (93 km) in 1920.

World War II

The 1,392 km (865 mi) long Trans-Iranian Railway from Bandar Torkaman on the Caspian Sea to Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni on the Persian Gulf was opened during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1939. The railroad was built with rail weighing 33 kilograms per metre (67 lb/yd) and required more than 3000 bridges. There were 126 tunnels in the Zagros mountains, the longest of which was 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi). Grades averaged 1.5 percent south of Tehran, but then increased to 2.8 percent to cross the 2,220-metre (7,270 ft) pass between Tehran and the Caspian Sea.

Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran

After the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941, this Persian Corridor became one of the supply routes for war material for the Soviet Union during World War II (Railway trend in Iran). The invading British built a 121-kilometre (75 mi) branch line from the 2,953-foot (900 m) bridge over the Karun River in Ahvaz to a new southern port at Khorramshahr on the Arvand Rud river. In 1943, 3,473 American soldiers of the Military Railway Service began running trains between the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea using ALCO RS-1 locomotives rebuilt with 3-axle trucks and designated RSD-1.[5] The Americans set up headquarters in Ahvaz, but were unable to tolerate the daytime heat, and generally operated the railway at night.[6] The Persian Gulf Command ran trains day and night.[7]

Challenging construction

See also: Construction in Iran

The Trans-Iranian railway traverses many mountain ranges, and is full of spirals and 1 in 36 (2.78%) ruling grades. Much of the terrain was unmapped when construction took place, and its geology unknown. Several stretches of line, including tunnels, were built through unsuitable geology, and had to be replaced before the line opened. Nevertheless, the line was completed ahead of schedule. In recent years the railways have undergone significant extensions including the 1977 linking to the western railway system at the Turkish border, the 1993 opening of the Bandar Abbas line providing better access to the sea, and the 1996 opening of the Mashad–Sarakhs extension as part of the Silk Road railway to link to the landlocked Central Asian Countries.

Railway construction

Following the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, American and British railroad crews pose alongside a locomotive, ca. 1943
A railway bridge at Do Ab, Mazanderan Province on the Gorgan — Bandar Torkaman line, 2007

In December 2014, a rail line from Iran opened to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. The opening of the line marks the first direct rail link between Iran, Kazakhstan and China, and upon completion of the Marmaray rail project direct rail transport between China and Europe (while avoiding Russia) will be possible.[8]

Start End Length
in km		 Start End
of Route of Construction
Tabriz Jolfa 148 1912 1916
Zahedan Mirjaveh 94 1920 1921
Tehran Bandar Torkaman 461 1928 1938
Tehran Bandar Imam Khomeini 928 1928 1939
Ahvaz Khorramshahr 121 1942 1943
Sar Bandar Mahshahr 12 1950 1951
Garmsar Mashhad 812 1938 1958
Tehran Tabriz 736 1939 1959
Gorgan Bandar Torkaman 35 1960 1961
Tabriz Bazargan 192 1912 1971
Qom Zarand 847 1939 1971
Isfahan Zarrin Shahr 111 1969 1972
Zarand Kerman 80 1975 1979
Bafq Bandar-Abbas 626 1982 1995
Mashhad Sarakhs 165 1993 1997
Aprin Maleki 24 1993 1997
Badrud Meibod 254 1996 1998
Chadormalu Meibod 219 1992 1999
Mohammediya-2 Mohammediya-1 6 1994 1999
Aprin Mohammediya-2 122 1994 1999
Rostamkola Amir Abad Port 25 1996 2001
Kerman Bam 225 1999 2002
Bafq Torbat-e Heydarieh 800 1992 2004
Bam Zahedan 546 2000 2009
Isfahan Shiraz 506 2001 2009
Torbat-e Heydarieh Khaf (Sangan Iron Mine) 146[9] 2004 2010[10]
Khorramshahr Shalamcheh (Iraqi border) 16 2009 2012[11]
Gorgan Etrek 88 2009 2014[12][13]
Tehran Hamedan 268 2001 2017[14]
Khaf Shamtiq (Afghan border) 78[15] 2007 2017[16]
Arak Kermanshah 267 2001 2018[17]
Maragheh Urmia 183 2003 2018[18]
Qazvin Rasht 164 2006 2018[19]
Passengers on board a train from Yazd to Tehran watch movies and sleep, 2014

Rolling stock

Main article: List of stock used by railways in Iran

Iran Railways uses a variety of rolling stock for their services. Trains are operated with diesel and electric locomotives. Steam locomotives have been phased out. Diesel is a strategic industry, and by using this heavy oil as a fuel instead of gas for locomotives, the Islamic Republic of Iran has joined the 12 world countries which manufacture this type of engine.[20]

Operations

See also: Transport in Iran

In 2008, the IR operated 11,106 km of rail with a further 18,900 km in various stages of development.[21] Almost all of this is standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), but 94 km are Russian gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) to link up to ex-Soviet Union border states. There is also the no-longer-isolated Indian gauge section of 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) from Zahedan to the Pakistan border that continues to Quetta and the Indian sub-continent. The extent of double-track lines is 1,082 km. The Jolfa–Tabriz line is electrified( 148 km). In 2006, IR reported that it possessed 565 engines, 1,192 passenger coaches, and 16,330 wagons. The vast majority of the engines are diesel-powered.

Expansion

Pardis trains being unloaded in Shahid Rajai Port, Iran

The majority of transportation in Iran is road-based. The government plans to transport 3.5% of the passenger volume and 8.5% of the freight volume by rail. Extensive electrification is planned. The railway network expands by about 500 km per year according to the Ministry of R&T. According to plan, Iran's railway lines are to reach 15,000 kilometers by 2015 and 25,000 kilometers by the year 2025.[22][23] The State Railways Company has 300 locomotives with an average lifespan of 40 years.[24] The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, the Iran Power Plant Projects Management (Mapna) and Germany's Siemens have signed a contract for 150 IranRunner locomotives for passenger trains. Siemens is committed to exporting to Iran some 30 locomotives in the first phase, and to manufacturing another 120 using domestic capacities and expertise over the next 6 years (2007). MLC (Mapna Locomotive Engineering and Manufacturing Company) is the manufacturing company responsible for this production. Another locomotive manufacturer in Iran is Wagon Pars which builds AD43C locomotives in partnership with Iranian power plant maker DESA diesel.[25] In 2009, €17 billion in foreign investment in the rail industry has been secured, according to the Ministry of Road and Transportation of Iran.[26]

Shiraz train station

Affiliate companies

  • Raja Passenger Train Company is an associate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (IRIR) and manages its passenger trains, including international trains linking Tehran to Istanbul and Damascus. Raja Passenger Train Company carried more than 4 million passengers during 2003–05. The number of passengers traveling by rail increased from 11.7 million in 2000 to 17.3 million in the year ending March 2005. Every passenger wagon annually carries 7,340 passengers per kilometer on average (whereas the figure is 3,950 people per kilometer in Turkey and 5,220 passengers per kilometer in Egypt). Private enterprises are expected to operate 5,000 wagons by 2009 (50% of total).[24]
  • Railway Transportation Company is also a subsidiary of the IRIR which manages its freight transport while the Ministry of Roads and Transportation is the state agency that oversees the IRIR. In Iran, for every wagon, some 1,050 tons of freight are being transported (2008).[24] The cargo rail system between Iran, Turkey and Pakistan will begin regular operations by August 2010.[27]
  • Zarand Company provides the national railroad system with freight and passenger train carriages.[28]

Network and corridors

The railway network converges on Tehran. The Iranian cities of Isfahan and Shiraz were linked to Tehran in 2009. Further extension of this line to Bushehr and Bandar Abbas is planned. Furthermore, the construction of Chabahar-Zahedan-Mashhad railway, extending from southeast to northeast of the country to the length of 1,350 kilometers, started in 2010 with 3 billion euro credit.[29] The western railway extension links to Turkey at the Rāzī–Kapıköy border. There is a northern connection to Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, and Russia has a bogie-changing station at the border at Jolfa. The southern routes connect Tehran to the Persian Gulf ports of Bandar Imam and Bandar Abbas. A line to the Caspian Sea ends at the terminal of Amir Abad and at Bandar Torkaman, and is part of a north–south corridor to Russia and Scandinavia. The north-east corridor connects Mashhad and continues further to the bogie-changing station at Sarakhs. For the landlocked countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan this line provides access to the sea. A recent connection from Mashhad to Bafq has significantly shortened access to the port city of Bandar Abbas. Tehran-Mashhad with a length of 900 kilometers, Tehran-Qom-Esfahan with a length of 410 kilometers (under construction), Qazvin-Rasht-Anzali-Astara with a length of 370 kilometers; will all be built with help from China at a cost of $12 billion.[30] In total, Iran has signed a number of contracts with China for the development of 5,000 kilometres of railway lines.[23]

North-South Railway

The north–south railway is complete between Qazvin and Bandar Abbas; the line was expected to be completed as far as Azerbaijan by the end of 2016.[31] Qazvin to Astara is the missing link in the North-South Transportation Corridor, which links India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and Finland. Qazvin Rasht railway was completed in 2018 and Rasht Astara railway needs another four years to be completed.[32]

Iran's first rail link to the outside world appeared simultaneously with the beginning of the country's railway system, as Iran's first major railway (1916) connected Tabriz with Jolfa on the border with the Russian Empire. The link continued its importance throughout the USSR era; Iran and the USSR signed an agreement on cross-border rail transport in 1940, and amended it in 1958.[33] It is reported that during the late-Soviet era, some 350 railcars crossed the border at Jolfa daily, with the annual amount of cross-border freight reaching 3.5 million tons.[34] However, after the breakup of the USSR and the closing of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan the Jolfa connection became a dead end, as it only links Iran with the isolated Nakhichevan exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan.[35] In 2007, Iranian Railways, Azerbaijan State Railway and Russian Railways agreed on implementing the project to build a new line between Qazvin, Resht, Astara, Iran and Astara, Azerbaijan. In April 2017, Russia and India celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations and vowed to complete the North-South Transportation Corridor (NSTC) with the help of Iran. The NSTC reduces time and cost of travel by 30-40%.[36][circular reference]There is presently no direct railway connection between Iran and Armenia, even though the two countries share a border. In 2009, Iran and Armenia agreed to build a railway linking Armenia with Iran's Persian Gulf ports.[37]

In 1996, Mashhad–Sarakhs extension connected Iran to Turkmenistan, as part of the Silk Road railway to link to the landlocked Central Asian Countries.Former states of the Soviet Union have railways using a 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) Russian gauge, thus the Iranian Railways maintain break-of-gauge services at borders to Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, and beyond brief wide-track rail segments to the border crossing. The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway link is a part of the North-South Transport Corridor and is a 677 km (421 mi)long railway line connecting the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan with Iran and the Persian Gulf. It will link Uzen in Kazakhstan with Bereket - Etrek in Turkmenistan and end at Gorgan in Iran's Golestan province. In Iran, the railway will be linked to national network making its way to the ports of the Persian Gulf. The project is estimated to cost $620m which is being jointly funded by the governments of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran.[38]

Iran extends its railway system to Iraq and Syria(01-2007)

Feasibility studies were started on Khorramshahr-Basra and Kermanshah-Baghdad links with Iraq.[39] As of 2014, the Iranian line to Khorramshahr was finished,[40] but construction had not started on the track from the Iraqi border to Basra.[citation needed] In 2017, the West Corridor known locally as Rahahane Gharb was expanded from Arak to Malayer and Kermanshah. The Iranian government plans on expanding the network further to Khosravi, Kermanshah (Iran-Iraq) border by 2018. China Civil Engineering Construction Corp is building the Malayer-Khosravi corridor, which will eventually run to the border with Iraq.[41] Mashhad-Khvaf-Afghanistan's Border-Islam Qala railway is being constructed by an Iranian firm, with funding from the Afghan government, but the section in Afghanistan remains incomplete.[41][42][43]

On 10 December 2020, the first rail link between Iran and Afghanistan on Khaf - Herat route between Khaf and Rahzanak in Afghanistan for a distance of 140km was formally inaugurated although traffic had started on 2/12/2 with a 500 tonnes test train cement delivery from Iran. [44]The works on remaining 85km section of the project between Rahzanak and Herat is in progress. The works on both sides are done as development assistance to Afghanistan by Iran.[45]The new Khaf - Rahzanak rail line continues from Khaf to Torbat-e Heydarieh where it links with Mashhad - Bafq railway line a crucial rail link opened in 2009 which connects port city, Bandar Abbas in Persian Gulf with north eastern city of Mashhad and from there with Turkmenistan through Sarakhs.[46][47]

In 1977, the Iranian railways linked to the western railway system at the Turkish border. The route to the west into Turkey terminates at Van with a 90 km (56 mi) train ferry for both freight wagons and international passenger traffic (baggage car only) across Lake Van, which is at an altitude of 1,650 m (5,413 ft), to Tatvan where it joins the Turkish standard-gauge network.

The construction of the railway from Bam to Zahedan was completed in early 2009 connecting Tehran to Pakistan border with an opening ceremony on 19 July 2009.[48] However international container traffic commenced operations on 14 August 2009 with transshipment (or transloading) between 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) and 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge wagons in the Zahedan Exchange Yard on the bypass line.[49] The freight traffic was discontinued however after the initial trial trains, and was only revived in 2015.[50] Iranian Railways have been trying to persuade Pakistan Railways to convert its route to Quetta to standard gauge, in order to facilitate the flow of international traffic to Europe. Pakistan responded in 2006 with a statement that it is to convert its network to standard gauge, and would plan a link with the standard gauge system of China. A through passenger service is being considered[49][51] to supplement the occasional Quetta-Zahedan service, itself a poor shadow of the former Pakistan-Iran 'Taftan Express'.

The Map showing Iran's rail link with neighboring countries

Railway electrification

Main article: Railway electrification in Iran

Although railway electrification in Iran was started in 1975, it was halted for almost 30 years. A contract for electrification of the Tehran-Mashhad double-track line and the supply of 70 electric locomotives was awarded in 2009.[52] Speeds of up to 200 km/h for locomotive-hauled passenger trains and 250 km/h for tilting EMUs are expected to reduce existing journey times of 7.5 to 12 to less than 5 hours. As recently as July 2017 the Iranian Government has completed a loan agreement for the Tehran – Mashhad electrification project. Works on this project are expected to begin shortly.

Commuter Railway services

Local Rail, also referred to as Suburban Rail or Commuter rail when originating from a large city and covering its suburbs, is a class of rail services, using railbus-type trains, running a distance of about 50 km to 200 km, and serving all stations.[53] Currently[when?] there are the following services:

Iranian Railways
Legend
Tehran Dept.
to Northwest Dept.
to North Dept.
Kohandezh
Bonekooh
Ziaran
to Northeast Dept.
Abyek
Yateri
Hashtgerd
Gordan
Garmsar
Karaj
Kavir
Abardezh
Maleki
Pishva
Varamin
Lashkari
Bahram
Nikpasandi
Ray
Mehrabad
Tehran
Aprin
Tappeh Sefid
Eslamshahr
Robat Karim
Airport
Shahriar
Namakzar
Rood-e Shoor
Separ Rostam
Parandak
Mohamadieh
Kheyripoor
to Arak Dept.
Kooh Palang
Anjilavand
Nodezh
Pol
Gar
to Arak Dept.

High-speed rail

Main article: Tehran-Qom-Isfahan High Speed Rail
Siemens DMUs capable of traveling at 200 km/h manufactured in Iran, 2007

Currently there is one high speed railway line under construction between Tehran and Isfahan passing through Qom. The length of the line is 410 km; completion is planned for 2021.

Construction of another high speed rail line between Qom and Arak is planned as well.[54]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sources:
    • شرکت قطار‌های مسافربری رجا [Raja Passenger Trains Company], www.raja.ir (in Persian and English), archived from the original on 2 April 2009, retrieved 31 March 2009, company website
    • "News Archive", www.msedv.com, RAJA Passenger Trains Operating Company, archived from the original on 6 April 2010, retrieved 14 January 2012, Passenger Trains Operating Company, RAJA, is a joint stock company affiliated to Islamic Republic of Iran's Railway Company (RAI). It was established in October 1996 as a part of RAI restructuring process, aimed at separating passenger and freight train operations management from infrastructure maintenance and development.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Railroads i. The First Railroad Built and Operated in Persia". Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  4. ^ Persia and the Persian Question
  5. ^ Pinkepank, Jerry A. The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide 1973 Kalmbach Books p.233
  6. ^ DeNevi & Hall United States Military Railway Service (1992) Boston Mills Press ISBN 1-55046-021-8 pp.8&73-77
  7. ^ "Persian Gulf Command" by Joel Sayre 1945, Random House
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ http://casp-geo.ru/strategicheskie-perspektivy-i-znachenie-zheleznoj-dorogi-haf-gerat/
  10. ^ https://www.mesteel.com/countries/iran/Sangan_Iron_Ore_Mine.pdf
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  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran Railway to Open Today, by Onur Uysal, http://railturkey.org/2014/12/03/kazakhstan-turkmenistan-iran-railway/ Archived 5 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/khaf-herat-railway-project/
  16. ^ https://en.mehrnews.com/news/126610/Khaf-Herat-railway-to-open-within-weeks
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Inaguration of Maragheh Urmia railway". Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 27 March 2019 suggested (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Iran Displays 1st Home-Made Locomotive with Diesel Engine". Fars News Agency. 29 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  21. ^ "راه آهن ج.ا.ا". Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
  22. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ a b c "Rail Privatization Underway". Iran Daily. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009.
  25. ^ "Iran Manufactures 1st Express Train". Iran Daily. 3 February 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  26. ^ "17 Billion Euro Foreign Investment in Rail Industry". Payvand.com. Mehr News Agency. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009.
  27. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ "Privatizing Railways". Iran Daily. 30 December 2006. Archived from the original on 12 January 2007.
  29. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "IRAN". Railways Africa. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. ^ СОГЛАШЕНИЕ О СОВЕТСКО-ИРАНСКОМ ЖЕЛЕЗНОДОРОЖНОМ СООБЩЕНИИ (МОСКВА, 20 ЯНВАРЯ 1958 Г.)[permanent dead link‍] (Agreement on Soviet-Iranian railway communications; Moscow, 20 January 1958)
  34. ^ На торговом пути «Север — Юг» Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (The North-South trade route) (in Russian)
  35. ^ Georgia to remain vital transit route for Armenia Archived 2009-11-18 at the Wayback Machine. Quote: "However, there are no expectations that in the near future there will be a resolution of the Karabakh conflict and the railroads connecting Armenia and Azerbaijan - Yerevan-Nakhichevan-Baku and Ichevan-Baku - will begin operating."
  36. ^ North–South Transport Corridor
  37. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ^ "North-South Transnational Corridor". railway-technology.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  39. ^ "Iran Iraq links". Railway Gazette International. 1 September 2005. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  40. ^ "Archived copy". Retrieved 17 March 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  41. ^ a b Charles Recknagel (14 October 2010). "Afghanistan's First New Railroad On Track". Radio Free Liberty/Radio Free Europe. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2011. Iran has reportedly completed two-thirds of a 190-kilometer rail bed from its town of Khaf to link with Herat.
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  43. ^ "FM Official Underlines Iran's Growing Aid to Afghanistan". Fars News Agency. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2011. 'The great project of Khaf-Herat railway - operation of which has also been commenced - will create a significant development in transit and connecting Afghanistan with regional and extra-regional (Europe) countries. Its connection to the railway of Central Asia, Turkey and Europe via Iran and also its connection to Iran's nationwide railways network - which will stretch from Bandar Abbas to Afghanistan - can play an important role in economic growth and development of Afghanistan,' the foreign ministry official said.
  44. ^ Agencies (11 December 2020). "Afghanistan, Iran open first rail network". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  45. ^ "Iran, Afghanistan open first rail link with eye on trade". The Hindu. PTI. 10 December 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 December 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
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  49. ^ a b "Islamabad-Istanbul freight train to start on 14 Aug". Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  50. ^ "restart Pakistani Iran freight trains". Archived from the original on 19 July 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  51. ^ "Passenger service". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
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  53. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  54. ^ http://www.globaltenders.com/gtblogs/construction-of-high-speed-rail-line-project-iran/
  55. ^ "The Hans India - India accedes to Ashgabat agreement". Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
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