New railway line between Iraq and Iran in the pipeline
Iraq and Iran will jointly finish a rail link at their border in the south. The rail link will connect the Iranian border city Shalamcheh and Iraqi southeastern city Basra. The new cross border rail...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
Russian fuel already finds its way to Iran via INSTC’s eastern branch
Following an energy supply deal of 40 billion US dollars last year, Russia has started the first fuel shipments to Iran via rail. It appears that already in February and March this year, 30,000 tonnes...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
Bahrain wants in on the INSTC
The Kingdom of Bahrain signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkmenistan to become part of the International North-South Transport Corridor. Turkmenistan Railways and Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication have agreed to connect the two...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
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
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
First Turkey-Uzbekistan train inaugurates new corridor
The first freight train on the railway line from Turkey reaches Uzbekistan via Iran and Turkmenistan reached its final destination on Saturday 3 December. This is the first freight train running on the 4,500-kilometre-long line,...Read more
12 million tons of cargo to transit Iran yearly on Moscow-Mumbai route
A new agreement between Russian Railways (RZD) and the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) will boost the transit volumes between Russia and India via Iran to 12 million tons of cargo per year. The...Read moreIran inaugurates critical INSTC railway section
The railway section connecting Zahedan and Khash, in southeastern Iran, was inaugurated on Thursday, 10 November. This segment is the first part of the Zahedan-Chabahar route, which will be incorporated into the International North-South Transport...Read more
Iran and Kazakhstan test new sea-rail service to the port of Bandar Abbas
Iran and Kazakhstan agreed on starting a test run at the beginning of 2023 for a multimodal sea-rail freight service to give landlocked Kazakhstan a connection to the Persian Gulf. The two countries are forming...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
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 moreRussia to develop transport hub in Iran, rail investments on the agenda
Iranian officials are becoming more certain regarding Russia’s involvement in domestic infrastructure projects. Of course, Russia will not invest in Iran for the country’s sake but to develop the transport links spanning from its territory...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