Iran plans to commission 4 railway projects

TEHRAN, Iran, June 22 Trend: Iran plans to launch four railway projects in current Iranian year (started March 20, 2020) that include Rasht–Anzali and Khaf–Herat railways designed to connect Ardebil, Kurdistan, Tabriz, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Provinces, said Managing Director of Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company. "The following projects have the priority for Iran. Construction of the railway from Rasht to Caspian port in Anzali is to start in current Iranian year and is expected to be completed by 2022," Kheyrollah Khademi, Trend reports citing ILNA. "This Iranian year, Fars Province will connect to Yazd via Yazd-Eqlid railway that will also link Tehran to Bandar Abbas port as well as the country's south-west to north-east," he said. "The priority is to launch 1,667-kilometer rail track and commission about 471 kilometers by the end of the current Iranian year," Khademi said. "A new railway route will operate in Tabriz, and construction of bridges and tunnels will make the traveling time shorter," he added. "Khaf-Herat railway connecting Iran to Afghanistan with 137-kilometer rail track also is scheduled to be completed this Iranian year," the managing director added. "Furthermore, a part of Zahedan–Chabahar railway will be commissioned in the current Iranian year, and the project will be fully completed in 2021. It will connect the only oceanic port to the country's railway network and eventually become a part of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)," he said. "Rasht–Astara railway project shall be completed by 2021, and the primary contract worth $1.4 billion has been signed for its implementation," he added.