New Railway Links Turkmenistan and Iran

A joint railway project linking central Asian countries to the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf has been inaugurated by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The 88 kilometre Gorgun-Inceburun railway links the north western Iranian city of Gorgan with Inceburun in Turkmenistan, and brings the capacity to transport 10 million tons of freight and 4 million passengers per year.

The project, which was first signed between the presidents of Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan at a summit back in September 2007, is part of a North-South link between Central Asia (China and Russia) with the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. Finance for the new railway line was received from the Asian Development Bank as part of the CAREC programme.

The new route demonstrates strengthening cooperation between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and bypasses the territory of Uzbekistan, which has historically been problematic. Transit of goods between countries in South and South-east Asia and the countries of North and Eastern Europe through Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Russia will be facilitated by the new railway.

Transportation projects in recent years have reflected increased international freight volumes in the region with the volume of cargo transportation and passenger transport growing dramatically in the first quarter of 2013.