MNA reported that Iranian and Russian railway companies are discussing plans to cooperate in launching a project for electrifying Garmsar to Gorgan and Tehran to Mashhad railway lines in Northern and Northeastern Iran.

Mr Abbas Nazari director general of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Railway Company for Investment and International Affairs said that "After the electric train of Tabriz to Azarshahr railway line was inaugurated, a meeting was held with the Russian railway company's MD and different subjects went under negotiation."

Mr Nazari said that electrification of Garmsar to Gorgan was among the issues discussed with the Russian official, the two sides decided to send a team of Russian experts to the region to study the project and present a draft contract.

He said that Iranian and Russian officials are due to discuss the two countries cooperation in building a railway line which will connect Qazvin, Rasht and Astara cities in Northern to Northwestern Iran.

Iran has been expanding and renovating its rail network in recent years. In line with the same efforts and to facilitate transportation and connection between Iran and its Northern neighbors, Iranian, Russian and Azeri officials in a series of meetings in February 2011 discussed prospects of railway construction in the North to South Corridor project.

They discussed creating a JV for the construction of the railway Qazvin to Rasht to Astara (Iran) to Astara (Azerbaijan), the design of construction and other issues.

The USD 400 million North to South transport corridor envisages creation of a single railway from Europe through Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran to India and South East Asia. Most of the work will be done in Iran, which has no rail link to the border with Azerbaijan. Certain work worth USD 35 million to USD 40 million is planned to be conducted in Azerbaijan.

Source - MNA

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