Iran-Germany Cargo Train Expected to Roll Next Year
EghtesadOnline: Islamic Republic of Iran Railways’ negotiations with German officials to launch cargo trains between the two countries have been fruitful and the first train is expected to use this route next year, the deputy head of IRIR's International Affairs Department said.
“Negotiations started two years ago and, at present, we are in talks to sort out regulation-connected issues,” Mojgan Kordbacheh was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
The official added that this rail route will be used to trade goods between Iran and Europe.
Hossein Ashouri, a board member of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, told Financial Tribune last year that Iran is planning to launch multiple rail corridors to Europe.
"The planned corridors include a route from Azerbaijan and Russia, another from Georgia and Black Sea, and a third through Turkey," he said.
“We have been discussing parallel routes with German companies and the officials of participating states.”
German firms DHL, DB Cargo (the freight division of Deutsche Bahn) and DB Schenekr (also a subsidiary of DB) were among the companies involved.
IRIR held multilateral meetings with these companies and the authorities in Turkey last year to discuss rail corridors using the existing infrastructures.
However, Deutsche Bahn announced in August that it was ending projects in Iran after Washington imposed new sanctions against Tehran.