Russia and Iran are reportedly finalising an agreement for the Rasht-Astara railway. The line in northern Iran is a crucial missing piece for the western branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). According to...Read more
According to the US-based think tank The Jamestown Foundation, Russia hopes to use the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as a way to evade Western sanctions. The development of the corridor allows Russia to gain...Read more
Rail freight volumes between Iran and Azerbaijan have grown by 28 per cent over an 11-month period. Between March 2023 and February 2024, approximately 645,000 tonnes of goods were transported via rail between the two...Read more
Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan plan to create a joint venture for the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The plan aims to improve the delivery of transportation services, shorten cargo delivery times and...Read more
It is probably the most critical railway section of the International North-South Corridor (INSTC), and its construction has been planned for a few years, with several ups and downs along the way. The Rasht-Astara railway...Read more
Azerbaijan is actively constructing a railway in the direction of the ‘Zangezur Corridor’. The railway is reportedly about halfway to completion. With the railway, Azerbaijan is looking to open up a free movement corridor through...Read more
Instability caused by the ongoing war in Gaza and Houthi attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea has put the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) on hold until further notice. India seems to be reassessing its...Read more
rasht-astara railwayThe Rasht-Astara railway line is a key missing link along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which aims to connect Russia and India. According to Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, construction of this...Read more
Cargo transit via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) has already exceeded 10 million tons this year. The Iranian Deputy Minister of Transport and Urban Development, Shahriyar Afandizadeh, shared the information. With this figure in...Read more
Iran and Russia claim to be ready to invest around 36 billion euros in the development of trans-Caspain lines along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Concerning Iranian investments mentioned on rail freight, they include...Read more
Geopolitical instability in the Caucasus area does not seem to hinder the development of relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. In contrast, it appears to be strengthening them. The two countries have also found themselves in...Read more
India has the ambition to step closer to Central Asian countries, but direct rail connections from India to Central Asia are unrealistic for mostly geopolitical reasons. Thus, rail-sea intermodal services become the solution, despite the...Read more
Russian cargo heading to Saudi Arabia can now transit on the Iranian rail network up to the port of Bandar Abbas. The option for this service was deactivated seven years ago due to the deteriorating...Read more
A new technology and logistics union is in the making in Russia to foster closer trade and economic ties with countries around the Caspian Sea and Central Asia. The union’s primary purpose will be to...Read more
The port of Chabahar is again becoming a core development point for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Russia, India and Iran plan more test shipments in the coming months that will include it. However,...Read more
The Russian government has agreed to have Turkmenistan join the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The addition of Turkmenistan offers an alternative route on the eastern branch of the corridor that would bypass Azerbaijan.Read more
Iran officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on 4 July, increasing the current SCO membership to nine. Alongside member states Russia and India, this new membership brings greater potential to the port of Chabahar,...Read more
A newly constructed rail line is set to be augmented this week. The railway will connect Bostanabad to Khavaran (near Tabriz), covering a distance of 44 kilometres. The section is part of the connection between...Read more
Iran and Afghanistan jointly completed the first rail operation on the Khaf-Herat railway line. The journey included 17 wagons and 655 tonnes of railway equipment for future rail construction. The route is 225 kilometres long,...Read more
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
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