Tehran Metro Network Expands

EghtesadOnline: The eastern flank of Tehran Metro’s Line 7 will become operational in the current Iranian year (started March 21), CEO of Tehran Metro Group says.

News ID: ۷۸۴۶۷۴

19 May 2019

Ali Emam added that 10 stations along the eastern side of the line, namely Mohammadieh, Molavi, Qiam Square, 17 Shahrivar, Mokhber, Mahallati, Ahang, Golha, Basij and Takhti, will become operational before the end of the current Iranian year, Fars News Agency reported.

"These 10 stations extend to about 8 kilometers of Line 7 on the far eastern side of the capital," he added.

The 27-km line, which connects the northwest to southeastern regions, is to have 25 stations, according to Financial Tribune.

The construction of Line 7 tunnel has been completed.

Emam noted that the stations will open as soon as the signaling equipment, escalators, air conditioning and fire extinguishing systems are installed.

Last month, the first three stations of the line were launched. With a 15-minute headway between trains, commuters can now 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.

The construction of Line 7 has been an unending saga since its partial opening in June 2017.

The premature launch by former mayor, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, amid the 2017 presidential campaign was strongly criticized by public transport experts and urban planners because it disregarded safety rules and protocols.

Qalibaf’s successor, Mohammad Ali Najafi, ordered the closure of the line to prevent any safety incident.

Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi, who took over from Najafi, now says all safety standards have been taken into consideration.

Further Progress

Tehran’s subway comprises seven lines, with nearly 100 stations. Lines 6 and 7 are still under construction.

Clarifying the progress in the construction of Line 6, Emam said Imam Hossein Station in the line will be launched in the coming months, increasing the number of active stations in the line to four.

Following the launch, the station will serve as a junction between lines 6 and 2. Line 2 connects Farhangsara Station in eastern Tehran to Sadeqieh in the west.

In early April, 9 kilometers of Line 6 with 3 stations, namely Dolatabad, Besat and Shohada were launched.

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 rural district in the northwest.

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

Parallel with extending the capital's metro coverage, Emam said, "The construction of radar rooms, control towers and train depots should progress."

Depots, also referred to as engine sheds, are places where trains are usually housed, repaired and maintained when not in used.

According to metro officials, after the completion of all projects, the subway will carry up to 9 million passengers every day from the present 3 million.