ESCO Signs Deal to Deliver Rails for Tehran Metro Projects

EghtesadOnline: Esfahan Steel Company (ESCO) has signed an agreement with Tehran Metro Company for providing 800 tons of rails to boost the development of urban and intercity railroads.

News ID: ۷۸۵۲۸۰

18 January 2020

The deal was signed Monday on the sidelines of the Second National Iranian Steel Festival and Exhibition in Tehran that runs until Jan. 16, according to Financial Tribune.

According to Tehran Metro CEO Farnoush Nobakht, of the total 800 tons of rails, 500 will be utilized for expanding subway lines in Tehran and the rest would be used in other projects, IRNA reported.

"The agreement was part of Tehran Municipality's plans for developing urban and intercity railroad transportation using domestic resources," he said.

Municipalities of other Iranian metropolises can similarly expand their railroad infrastructures with the help of local producers and accelerate the construction of subway network.

“The move can also provide a wide market for the steel company and oil the wheels of the industry,” Nobakht said.

“Utilizing the local potentials can help curb the country's dependence on foreign producers and reduce the impact of harsh sanctions imposed on Iran by the US.”

Currently, the capital's subway stretches over 245 kilometers and comprises seven lines (1 to 7) with nearly 127 stations. Lines 6 and 7 are yet to become fully operational.

More Progress

As part of efforts to further develop Tehran’s subway network, TM is in talks with domestic producers to add 100 elevators to the operating and under-construction stations.

Earlier in October 2019, Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi said TM signed a deal for purchasing 40 elevators, which will soon be installed. The new elevators will ensure that the movement of passengers inside subway stations is convenient.

"The mere inauguration of a station does not mean it is fully equipped. The installation of additional items might require more time and money," he added.

According to the Persian newspaper Hamshahri, the government intends to use the National Development Fund of Iran to help TM buy 630 subway cars.

Officials say the government will transfer the budget as soon as experts estimate the price and select the supplier companies.

According to TM, 1,000 railcars are currently operating in the capital's subway system, 30% of which need to be upgraded.

Hanachi told reporters that since Nov. 15, 2019, when the government rationed and tripled fuel prices, authorities have stressed that the revenue saved will be spent on people's welfare in different areas, one of which is public transportation.

He called on government bodies to fulfill their promise and support TM in upgrading the dilapidated bus fleet and equipping the subway system.

Hanachi emphasized that TM is doing its best to provide citizens with standard and efficient means of transportation, and called for the public's understanding and patience.

Transportation Development Plans

In an ambitious initiative to provide Tehran’s residents with extensive and decent transportation services, TM mapped four additional lines for Tehran Metro in collaboration with a French engineering and consulting group, and the Iranian engineering group Gueno.

The new lines (8 to 11) have been designed to cover areas not covered by the Tehran Metro network.

The C-shape Line 8 is to stretch over 37 kilometers starting from the southeast, turning around the city center as a curve and turning back to the northeast with a total of 35 stations.

When completed, Line 9 will be 46 km long with 39 stations. The line will cover a larger area starting from the west at Line 5's Chitgar Station. It then travels up north and goes toward the east to reach Imam Ali (AS) Highway. The line continues southward and ends at Dolatabad Station on Line 6.

Line 10 is the uppermost route, starting from Vardavard Station on Tehran-Karaj Line 5. It travels 41 kilometers across the northern part of the city with 34 stations, before reaching northeast to Qanat-e Kosar.

Finally, Line 11, which is comparatively shorter, will stretch over 26 kilometers, starting from Chitgar Station on Line 5 and linking it to the southeastern flank of Tehran with 17 stations.

All the four new lines will have numerous intersections with the already operating lines.

TM officials say the subway network has expanded significantly in recent years and over four million people are currently using the trains every day. The figure is expected to surge by a massive 25% after subway lines 6 and 7 are up and running.

But this is definitely not adequate for Tehran where, according to statistics, over 15 million people commute daily, many from the surrounding cities and towns.