The premature launch of Line 7 by former mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf amid 2017 presidential campaigns was strongly criticized by public transport experts and independent urban planners as it handled standard safety rules and protocols with disregard, and merely aimed to boost development statistics as a publicity stunt.
Qalibaf’s successor, Mohammad Ali Najafi, ordered to roll back his hastened decision lest lives of commuters would be endangered.
While announcing that the line will be reopened in the coming days, Nobakht was quoted as saying by Shora Online that “trial runs for these stations have not been conducted yet.”
According to Financial Tribune, he added, “A ten-minute headway has been decided for the trains commuting on the line.”
The stations scheduled for this phase of the launch are Shahid Navvab-e Safavi, Kumeil, Beryanak, Mohammadiyeh, as well as an unnamed intersecting station.
He further pointed to plans to add more cars to the existing fleet as a way to curb the headway intervals, with lines 3 and 4 at the top of their concerns.
As per Tehran Municipality’s five-year plan (March 2013-18), Line 7, which connects the capital’s northwestern flank to southeastern parts, was scheduled for completion by 2015, but after nearly two years, only seven stations were initially opened and that with many problems.