The Chabahar–Zahedan railway is a railway line currently under construction in Iran.
| Chabahar–Zahedan railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Under construction |
| Locale | |
| Termini | |
| History | |
| Planned opening | 2024 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 750 km (470 mi) |
| Operating speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
Location
editThe rail line is to connect the port of Chahbahar, which is located on the Indian Ocean, to the country's rail network via Zahedan - from 2021 according to the original plans. The port is the only deep-water port in Iran that has direct access to the Indian Ocean without ships having to pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. The railroad therefore also has strategic military significance for Iran. For India, this route represents a chance for freight traffic to obtain a water/land connection to Russia, bypassing Pakistan. India was therefore reported to contribute to the construction of the railroad line financially.[1] There were confusion about Indian involvement in the project later in 2020.[2]
History
editThe first tracks were laid in November 2020. Commissioning is scheduled for 2024.[3]
Technical details
editThe line will be 750 kilometers long and built on a single track with the standard gauge common in Iran.[4] The maximum gradient will be 15 ‰ with a maximum curve radius of 1000 meters. The line is designed for a maximum permissible speed of 120 km/h for passenger trains and 90 km/h for freight trains. It is planned to transport 1.3 million tons of goods in the first year of operation, which is planned to be increased to 35 million tons within the next 20 years.[5]
Expansion plans
editAt a later date, the route is to be extended from Zahedan around 800 kilometers north via Mashhad to Seraqs on the border with Turkmenistan.[6] This will create a north–south connection along Iran's eastern border, giving the landlocked Central Asian states the shortest access to a seaport. A branch to Afghanistan is planned near Zaranj to facilitate trade in goods.[7]
References
edit- ^ Haidar, Suhasini (2020-11-07). "Months after starting Chabahar rail project without India, Iran seeks equipment". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ "Confusion over India's Role in Iran's Chabahar–Zahedan Line".
- ^ "Zahedan-Chabahar railway to be completed by Mar. 2024". Tehran Times. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ "Issue 95 C. Iran, (ii) New Line in the East, p. 16" (PDF). harakevetmagazine.com.
- ^ Abbas Nazari: Port of Chabahar: South-East Gate of Iran's International Routes. In: OSJD Bulletin (2018), p. 6–9.
- ^ "LOK Report - Iran: Strecke Chabahar - Zahedan geht Ende 2020 in Betrieb". www.lok-report.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ "Irans Hafensektor macht Fortschritte | owc.de". 2019-08-06. Archived from the original on 2019-08-06. Retrieved 2024-04-11.