IRAN: RZD International officially launched work to electrify the Garmsar – Incheh Borun line with a ceremony on July 2.

The 495 km route links the Tehran – Mashhad main line with the border with Turkmenistan. The electrification and upgrading project is scheduled to take 52 months and aims to increase the capacity of the route to 10 million tonnes/year, supporting the development of the North-South corridor between Russia, Central Asia and Iran east of the Caspian Sea.

The €1·2bn contract which Islamic Republic of Iran Railways  signed with Russian Railways’ export business on March 28 2017 includes the installation of 25 kV 50 Hz electrification, track upgrading to permit high speeds, resignalling, the supply of electric locomotives and maintenance equipment, and the provision of technical assistance once electric services begin.

A five-year Russian export loan is financing 85% of the cost, with the Iranian government providing the remaining 15%.