Iran and Azerbaijan to have rail connection by the end of 2016

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said the railways of Iran and Azerbaijan will be connected by the end of 2016, Trend reports.
“As for the transit issues and North South Corridor, the countries will see an important development by connecting Astara (Iran) – Astara (Azerbaijan) railways by the end of the current year,” President Rouhani said after a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.
The North-South Corridor, starting in India and stretching to Finland, is one of the most important routes for Azerbaijan.
The route is quite long – about 5,000 km, and will run through the territory of Azerbaijan.
The North-South Corridor will connect northern Europe to south-eastern Asia.
It will serve as a link between the railways of Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.