Is it possible to say that the history of Iran fits into the framework of the cycle of “Embassy Life” about the railways of the Persian Gulf countries? Of course, after all, all modern projects associated with it can be characterized by one common idea. Only, if earlier we talked about how the construction of a new transport network is connected with a sporting event, logistical accessibility of parts of the country and other reasons, today we can say that in the case of the Islamic Republic we are talking about politics, in its purest manifestation.
In recent years, Iran has been increasingly looking for international partners for cooperation in the field of rail transportation. Perhaps those reading this article will remember about the Iran-Iraq agreement, which approved the implementation of the project of the routes passing the Iranian Shalamche to the Iraqi Basra (approx. – see the article on the railways of Iraq). The implementation of this memorandum will make it possible to unite the transport networks of the two countries into one common one – and for the period of March 2023, it is known that Iran does not abandon its plans and obligations for the construction of this part of the railway. Here we can also recall the agreement between Iran and Uzbekistan, concluded last year by the countries within the framework of cooperation in the mutual use of ways.
“In order to strengthen cooperation in the field of rail transport and the effective use of international transport and transit corridors on the Iran-Uzbekistan route, negotiations were held between the Iranian and Uzbek authorities on January 24, following which a Protocol on cooperation between the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the railways of Uzbekistan was signed on Wednesday, January 26”[1], – IRNA agency wrote with reference to the message of the national company of Iranian Railways. Thus, the desire of the Islamic Republic to create new trade corridors becomes more than obvious. However, at the same time, the country does not ignore local passenger transportation: according to tourists, private carriers, which mainly occupy the Iranian railway market, differ in quite pleasant travel offers.
The compartment car of the Zendeghi branded train (Source: The Railway Station Wagon website)
No less obvious is the fact that achievements in the development of railways are associated for the country with overcoming the consequences of Western sanctions. And not only in the context of the search for new ways of communication (although they, of course, too, but more on that later), but also in terms of the development of their own heavy industry. For example, in October 2020, it became known about the creation of a production of railway brakes in Iran – this achievement allowed the Director General of the Iranian railway, Said Rasuli, to declare that the state could soon get rid of “import dependence” in this area.
“We used to import a railway brake into the country, and only 3 countries could produce this part […] In the near future we will be able to produce a railway brake by 100%, and dependence on brake imports will be completely stopped,”[2] – the Islamic Republic News Agency reports his words.
If we talk about Iran’s search for new ties – in diplomatic and transport terms, then it is impossible not to recall the participation of this country in the North-South ITC agreement. Iran is not just one of the key players in the initiatives for a new transport corridor connecting India and Russia, but it is also likely to become the largest center for the “hooking up” of wagons along this route. The fact is that the railway network of Iran partially corresponds to the “Russian”, and partially to the “Indian” standard of gauge. Obviously, this will play quite an important role in the development of transport logistics in the country in the future. Russia is already ready to invest in the construction of the Iranian section of the transport corridor.According to the Ministry of Transport, funds in the amount of $ 1.5 billion will be allocated for these needs until 2030.
“According to the presentation, as part of the development of the North–South ITC linking India, Iran and Russia, Russian Railways is planning to participate in the construction of a line from the border town of Astara in Azerbaijan to the city of Rasht in Iran (164 km) and electrification of the Garmsar– Inche-Burun line (495 km) in Iran,”[3] – Vedomosti reported in July last year.
Iranian railways have quite a long and very heroic history. It was through the Persian routes that lend-lease aid was delivered to the Soviet Union during the Great Patriotic War. Somehow, it is not even possible that at the same time Iran would have avoided the development and operation of its important logistics hub – even in conditions of economic restrictions. Today, capital and logistics play a role in the development of railway communication in the Islamic Republic – the lines that are being built in the country today most often lead to seaports. For example, two years ago, roads were laid connecting the port city of Chahbehar with the national network.
Train on the Trans-Iranian route of the WWII
“All our efforts were aimed at completing the project before the deadline, but we will open part of it. And with the opening of the railways that we are about to open, we will open from 5 to 8 railways in one day, and this is one of the greatest works in the history of Iran,”[4] former head of state Hassan Rouhani said at the time.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning one curious fact – in 2019, Iran hosted the 7th International Conference of future stations, at which the head of the passenger transportation department of the International Union of Railways, Mark Gigon, said that “Iranian Railways are the most advanced transport system in Western Asia.”[5] And it seems that the road, built in 1914, is not going to live only with its rich heritage of the past.
The author of the article is Sofia Chernopyatova
[1] https://ru.irna.ir/news/84628728/Иранские-и-узбекские-железные-дороги-подписали-соглашение-о-сотрудничестве
[2] https://ru.irna.ir/news/84068351/В-Иране-появилась-технология-производства-железнодорожного-тормоза
[3] https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/articles/2022/07/25/932989-rossiya-videlit-15
[4] https://ru.irna.ir/news/84395418/Рухани-Чабахар-будет-соединен-с-национальной-железной-дорогой
[5] https://ru.irna.ir/news/83550658/Иранские-железные-дороги-самая-передовая-транспортная-система
