Jabar Alizekkari, CEO of the Islamic Republic of Iranian Railways, said in a statement released Monday that the country plans to electrify the approximately 1,000-kilometer (621 miles) of railway, from the Sarahus border to the northeastern Sarahus border to the western border with Iraq.
Zakeri said the project also includes double tracking in some parts of the railway, aiming to triple rail freight transport in the corridor to 15 million tonnes a year.
Officials spoke during a meeting with the chairman of Beijing’s China State Railway Group, Guo Zhuxue.
During the meeting, Zhuxue said China views Iran as a key partner in the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.
He also said China is trying to increase container freight transport through the Iranian railway network.
Iran has invested heavily in its transport infrastructure in recent years as part of its efforts to earn more revenue from freight transport in its growing region.
Iranian Railways have been used in recent years for north-south and east-west freight transport between major regions, including China, Russia and India.
Iran’s efforts to expand its road and rail transport networks are in line with the Iranian government’s broader economic diversification plan. The Iranian government is trying to reduce its dependence on energy exports.
China has pledged to invest heavily in Iran’s transportation infrastructure as part of a 25-year cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in 2021.
MNA