India invests in Chabahar port to boost International North-South Corridor
The noticeable growth of the North-South transport Corridor (INSTC) is putting key transport hubs in the foreground. India aims to invest in the Iranian port of Chabahar with six new cranes, recognising its importance in...Read more
A new stop on the Russia-Iran corridor: port of Turkmenbashi
Turkmenistan will join India, Russia, and Iran on the International North-South Corridor (INSTC). The countries signed agreements towards this end last week during the Ministerial Transport Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Avaza, in...Read more
The missing piece on the Russia-India corridor ready in 2023?
The construction of the Rasht–Astara railway in Iran is 70 per cent complete, and should be delivered mid-2023. This is according to the Russia Briefing. The Rasht-Astara railway line is considered the missing piece on...Read moreCan the International North-South Corridor become a lifeline for Russia?
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) linking Russia and India has made major strides in recent days. Thanks to Russia’s 4 billion dollars investment in Iranian oil fields, the corridor’s key missing link, the Rasht-Astara...Read moreFirst Russia rail shipment to India reaches Mumbai with more to come
The first test rail shipment between Russia and India via Iran completed its journey reaching Mumbai last week. However, this seems to be the starting point of a broader development process along the International North-South...Read more
New Asian intermodal train indicates Iran’s shifting transport role
A new China-Iran intermodal rail service also crossing the Caspian Sea is here to change the dynamics of Silk Road and Central Asian transport. It is the first service of its kind, linking the Chinese...Read more
First Kazakhstan-Turkey train via Iran, how can it help Eurasian rail?
The first train service transiting from Kazakhstan to Turkey via Iran is already transiting. The train departed from Pavlodar in Kazakhstan a week ago and reached Tehran in Iran on 19 June, after passing through...Read more
Iran’s missing North-South corridor rail link proceeds with construction
About one-third of the railway line connecting Rasht and Bandar Anzali in Iran has been constructed. 11 out of 35 kilometres of track are in place already, and the line’s construction proceeds despite some technical...Read more
Azerbaijan upgrades railways to connect Russia and India
Azerbaijan is reconstructing an important part of its railway line that lies on the International North-South Transport Corridor. The works are upgrading the Sumgayit-Yalama railway line. Following the opening of a 23-kilometer section in late...Read more
Iran and Afghanistan want to extend shared rail connection to China
The Khaf-Herat railway line between Iran and Afghanistan could possibly extend towards China as part of the East-West railway corridor. Abbas Khatibi, the Deputy Transport and Urban Development Minister, stated that such a development could...Read more
Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor: why does Iran need a new gateway?
Iran is negotiating with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, and Greece to launch a new multimodal corridor. The Persian Gulf-Black Sea project will connect the two regions using rail and sea links. It is an ambitious...Read more
The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train will keep running reassures Turkey
During the welcoming ceremony of the first Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train in Ankara, the Turkish transport minister Adil Karaismailoğlu reassured the attendees that the corridor would remain active with the possibility to extend towards Europe.Read more
Second Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train on its way: the service might have a future
After commencing on 21 December, the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad corridor dispatched a second train on 29 December. The train is currently transiting via Iran, carrying 24 covered wagons from Pakistan with 524 tons of Talc powder.Read more
Are we closer to a rail solution in Caucasus?
The geopolitical situation in the Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan has hindered the development of rail links in the region. The rivalry between the two countries has also posed problems in developing international routes like...Read more
China-EU-US trade war worsens, is your export still allowed?
If you are active on the New Silk Road, you need to be aware of possible sanctions, as the list of sanctioned goods, persons and transactions is growing. Disagreements between China on the one hand,...Read more
Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train departed. Is it real this time?
The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) railway train finally departed in western direction on Tuesday 21 December. After many failed attempts to resume this rail freight service connecting Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, it now seems that the train...Read more
How an ex-war zone shapes the Russia-India corridor
ANALYSIS – The development of the North-South International Transport Corridor connecting Russia with India via Iran is on hold. Many said that the missing link for its completion, in this case, is Iran and its...Read more
Taliban in Afghanistan, new railway deals in the region?
ANALYSIS – Rail freight connections to Afghanistan have been high on the agenda for governments in the region, as they could open up Central Asian markets for countries in the southeast of Asia, most notably...Read more
This week: RailFreight Live – the Iran edition
US sanctions have impacted international rail freight activity in Iran for many years. Important connections are not realised, or not consumed as they should be. At the same time, the importance of Iran in connecting...Read more