


Can India teach some lessons on rail freight policy?
ANALYSISIndia’s rail freight market is unique in many ways. The country has an established and fully functional network of dedicated freight corridors, double-stack trains and ambitious plans to shift substantial freight volumes on the rail....Read more
Iran to unlock a new rail route on Russia-India corridor
Iran is about to complete the construction of a railway section on the Russia-India route. The new section will connect the Iranian Caspian seaport city Bandar Anzali and Rasht. The line is expected to be...Read more
Major rail project in Middle East, US leverage against China-Russia
ANALYSISJake Sullivan, the White House National Security advisor, met with his Saudi, Emirati and Indian counterparts and discussed a joint railway project linking the Middle East to India via a railway network crossing Saudi Arabia,...Read more
Under pressure: Russia-India attempt to speed up INSTC trade
ANALYSISThe Russo-Indian relations’ development dynamics are increasingly characterised by interdependence and attempts for more engagement. The two countries share plans varying from sea transport to rail freight, joint ventures and payment mechanisms, but not all...Read more
From Moscow to Mumbai: geopolitical powerplay determines the corridor’s future
ANALYSISIs the International-North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) still too young to determine its development? Even though the corridor has been in the spotlight for more than a year, it still faces certain limitations affecting its establishment...Read more
The port of Chabahar needs 91 million euros, India will only invest 11
In its budget for the coming fiscal year, which in India goes from April to April, the Indian government has allocated only a little over 11 million euros for the development of the Chabahar port....Read more
Everyone wants to reap the fruits of INSTC
ANALYSISWhat started as a far-fetched but relatively promising route and developed into Russia’s main diversification corridor is now becoming a hot trend everyone wishes to join. It’s all about the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)...Read more
Something is moving in Central Asia with Agroexpress rail services
The Eurasian Agroexpress project, officially launched in 2022 by member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), is here to stay and expand. In its first year of operation, the rail project scored sufficient numbers...Read more
Russia-Iran streamline interbank payments for more transport and investments
Russia and Iran have officially entered an agreement to connect their interbank payment systems. Iran’s Shakr Bank and Russia’s VTB Bank will lead a project to link 158 banks and facilitate payments, investments, and other...Read more
New railway line connecting east and west, this time in Iraq
A new railway link from the Persian Gulf to Turkey and eventually Europe is in the design phase. The country of transit? Iraq. The country is speeding up the project, as it is well aware...Read more
KTZ Express: new India-Kazakhstan service via Iran-Turkmenistan
Kazakhstan is joining Russia in the quest to develop the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The newest development is that KTZ Express, the multimodal subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway company KTZ,...Read more
Siemens supplies Indian Railways with 1,200 electric locomotives in deal of the century
In the single largest locomotive order in the company’s history, Siemens Mobility will deliver 1,200 electric locomotives to Indian Railways. Producing 9,000 horsepower (HP), the brand-new locomotives will dominate the Indian railway network, which is...Read more
Russia want to double capacity on Moscow-Mumbai corridor
Russia wants to increase the capacity of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The throughput capacity of all branches of the corridor between Russia and India is, at full potential, 14 million tonnes per...Read more
EDB: ‘INSTC potential not limited to Russian involvement’
The frenzy noted lately around the International North-South Transport Corridor is not only limited to Russia’s benefits through it. The INSTC has been projected as the Russian lifeline during the past months after the western...Read more
RZD launches first regular train Moscow-India
The consecutive pilot services along diverse routes of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in the past months are finally bearing fruits for the Russian Railways. RZD launched the first regular INSTC container train service...Read more
Transport blockade could cost Armenia’s INSTC position and strengthen Azerbaijan’s
The issue of the transport blockade imposed on Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey could prove detrimental to the country’s position in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) backed by Russia. Alexei Overchuk, the Russian deputy...Read more
Indian Railways launches innovative, homemade aluminium freight rake
Besco Limited Wagon Division, an Indian wagon manufacturer, collaborated with Hindalco, an Indian aluminium manufacturer, to build a new type of train rake. It is the first indigenously manufactured aluminium rake for Indian Railways freight...Read more
Iran eyes another operator for Chabahar port in view of new rail line
What appeared to be stable and fruitful cooperation at the Iranian Chabahar port is clouded by doubt. The Secretary of the Shipping Association of Iran, Masoud Polmeh, has expressed concerns about India Ports Global Limited...Read more
Russia-India corridor now goes east, middle and west
The eastern branch of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a fact. Six trains are currently en route overland, from Russia to India via Turkmenistan and Iran. These trains indicate the increased interest...Read more