Iran, Iraq to develop railway networks for cargo, passenger

Tehran, Dec 31, IRNA—Minister of Roads and Transport Abbas Akhoundi said on Tuesday that Iran is willing to develop railway networks with from Shalamche border for commuting Iranian pilgrims to Iraqi holy sites in the future. Speaking to his Iraqi counterpart Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi, Akhoundi said the requisite for Iran-Iraq railway networks from Shalamche border is laying 32 kms of tracks on the Iraqi soil so that it is connected to Basra railway, then to Baghdad, Karbala, Kadhymain and northern Iraq to take Iraqi passengers to different parts of Iran. Akhoundi said Iranˈs railway network is connected to Central Asian networks and from there to Chinese and Russian railway networks and if 32kms Shalamche railway to Basra is built, Iraq will be able to transfer cargo and passenger up to Russia and China through Iran railway network. He said Iranian Roads and Transport Ministry is keen on railway networks link with all the neighboring countries and Iran is ready to promote its ties with Iraq through all forms of transport means./end