Indigenous Rolling Stock Worth $322m Join Iran’s Rail Network
EghtesadOnline: A total of 213 domestically-made rolling stock worth 36,625 billion rials ($322 million) joined Iran's railroad network during a ceremony attended by Roads Minister Mohammad Eslami and the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, Saeed Rasouli, on Tuesday.
“Out of the 213 rolling stock manufactured inside the country, five are locomotives, 193 are freight wagons and the rest are passenger wagons,” Rasouli was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.
The official noted that Iran's rolling stock averages 24 years and the newly added locomotives, carriages and wagons will reduce the figure, Financial Tribune reported.
Iranian’s top rolling stock manufacturer, Wagon Pars Company, has signed a contract to manufacture eight passenger wagons for Raja Railway Transport Company, according to Raja’s CEO.
“The contract is worth between 450 billion and 550 billion rials [$3.93 million and $4.8 million],” Mohammad Reza Bakhtiari was quoted as saying by ILNA on Sunday.
Bakhtiari said Wagon Pars Company had signed a contract to build 33 wagons for Raja two years ago.
“We delivered the last batch early this year,” he added.
The official noted that Wagon Pars will also be refurbishing 55 passenger wagons belonging to Raja, based on a contract worth 900 billion rials ($7.86 million).
Wagon Pars, launched in 1974 in the city of Arak in Markazi Province, is a subsidiary of the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran and the largest manufacturer of freight, passenger and subway wagons in the Middle East.
RAJA was also established in November 1996 as an affiliate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways with the aim of improving the quality and scope of railroad passenger services. It was transferred to the Tourism Holding of Social Security Organization (better known by its Persian acronym HEGTA) in March 2010 as part of IRIR’s outstanding debt to the organization.