Kazem Taherzadeh was speaking in a press conference on the sidelines of the Seventh International Exhibition of Rail Transportation, Related Industries & Equipment on Wednesday, IRNA reported.
According to the official, production of railroad switches started 20 years ago at Tabriz Machinery Manufacturing Company in cooperation with an unnamed French company.
A railroad switch is a mechanical installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a rail junction or where a spur or siding branches off, Financial Tribune reported.
Taherzadeh noted that 1,000 people are directly involved in the production of railroad switches.
“An average of 100 railroad switches have been produced in Iran during the past 20 years,” he said, adding that the railroad switch production has increased in the past three years and 400 railroad switches were produced during the last fiscal year (ended March 20, 2019).
“Earlier, €22,500 were spent for each railroad switch,” he said.
The international exhibition, also known as RAILEXPO 2019, was held from 9-12 June at Tehran’s International Exhibition under the auspices of Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and the sponsorship of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways.
The exhibition was attended by high-ranking Iranian officials, besides top managers from Iran’s rail sector.