Rapid Expansion Plans for Tehran Subway Underway

EghtesadOnline: Two more stations along the eastern flank of Tehran Metro’s Line 7 came on stream on Wednesday, CEO of Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway Company announced.

News ID: ۷۴۸۲۴۹

25 August 2019

Ali Emam added that Basij and Mohammadiyeh stations, which cover 8.5 kilometers of the line, have become operational, ISNA reported.

"The stations will be officially inaugurated on August 26 in the presence of urban managers," he said.

Mohammadiyeh Station is a junction of Line 1 that links the north to the south of the capital, according to Financial Tribune.

Emam explained that Basij Station is located at the axis of Shahid Mahallati and Basij highways and facilitate passengers’ access to Khavaran BRT terminal.

The two stations and the connecting tunnel were successfully tested last week to ensure its smooth operation.

According to the Tehran Metro chief, signaling, air-conditioning and power supply were among factors assessed in a simulation test along the line.

The 27-km Line 7, which connects the northwest to southeastern parts of Tehran, will have 25 stations.

As the western flank of the line was partially operational, the launch of the eastern section of Line 7 has connected southeast to the northwest of the capital.

By March 2020, six more stations on Line 7 will begin operations.

Emam noted that on the inauguration day, four new trains made by domestic producers will also be added to the line's operating trains.

Currently, the line's headway has reached 15 minutes, which will be further reduced with the addition of new trains.

Line 7 History

The first three stations of the line were launched in March. Commuters were first able to take the subway from Helal Ahmar Station in downtown Tehran to Tarbiat Modares Station near Chamran and Jalal Al-e-Ahmad expressway junction to Sanat Square in northwest Tehran.

Line 7 was partially opened in June 2017 by Tehran's former mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, during his 2017 presidential election campaign. The line’s premature launch was strongly criticized by public transport experts and urban planners because it disregarded safety rules and protocols.

Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi now says all safety standards have been observed.

Tehran’s subway network stretches over 220 kilometers and comprises seven lines (1 to 7) with nearly 120 stations. Line 6 and 7 are under construction.

Rapid Line 6 Construction

Mohsen Pourseyyed-Aqaei, managing director of Transportation and Traffic Organization of Tehran Municipality, also told the media earlier this week that the construction of Line 6 is rapidly gaining momentum and Molavi Station in the south will be launched in October.

"A major part of the tunnel of Line 6 has been constructed and all the stations will be inaugurated by the end of the current Iranian year [March 2020]," he said.

In early April, the line opened partially in the presence of President Hassan Rouhani and Tehran’s mayor.

Currently, 9 kilometers of Line 6 with 3 stations, namely Dolatabad, Besat and Shohada, are operational.

When fully constructed, Line 6 will stretch over 38 km and have 27 stations. It will be the longest line in the subway network and connect Shahr-e Rey in southeast Tehran to the famed Sulqan District in the northwest.

Later, the line will expand to Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine in the ancient district of Rey to the south of the city.

After completion, Line 7 will be able to move 800,000 passengers per day.

Further Expansion

In an effort to increase access to clean means of transportation, TM has put in place new plans.

Three new subway lines (lines 8, 9 and 10) have been mapped by the experts, two of which are to cross District 22 in northwest Tehran.

Tehran’s District 22 covers 5,500 hectares in the western part of the capital and includes residential, recreational and tourism facilities.

Pourseyyed-Aqaei said Line 10 will have 24 stations, nine of which will be located in the district.

Experts say traffic congestion will definitely grow, as urban development increases in the district. So, in addition to developing the urban transport fleet, plans to expedite rail-based transportation to ease road traffic are highly welcome.