A representative within the Iranian railways organization revealed recent developments concerning Azerbaijan’s plans to invest in the development of Iran’s railway system in order to help the full activation of the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Nourollah Beiranvand, the deputy for planning and investment at the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, says the Azerbaijani officials have recently agreed to provide EUR 60 million for developing railway facilities in Astara City (Iran).
According to Beiranvand, about a half of the funds are projected to finance the construction of a 1.4 kilometer-long railway in Astara as well as the railway station construction. The remaining half will go for the construction of four terminals of fuelling, general cargo, grain and containers, he said.
Further speaking about the plans to connect the railways of Iran and Azerbaijan as part of the International North-South Transportation Corridor, Nourollah Beiranvand described the Rasht-Astara railway segment (inside Iran) as the “missing link” of the corridor.
To complete the railway links of the transportation corridor, Iran had earlier agreed to construct inland railway segments in northern parts of the country in order to extend its railway network to the border area with the neighboring Azerbaijan through the two cities of Astara on both sides.
The initial plan included Qazvin-Rasht and Rasht-Astara railway segments. In the meantime, Azerbaijan has launched a construction project to extend its railway into Iran’s territory which is going through the final tests and will be implemented soon.
According to Nourollah Beiranvand, the construction of the Qazvin-Rasht segment is almost over and it is expected to come on stream within the next six months.
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