The Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI) finalised in January the process for selecting the winner of the tender for electrification of the Tehran-Mashad line. The projects consists in the electrification of the Tehran-Mashad double track line within 30 months, with supplying 70 electric locomotives that will increase the speed from 160 to 200 km/h for passenger trains and 250 km/h for tilting EMUs, reducing the journey time from 12 to 6 hours for passenger trains and from 7 and a half hours to less than 5 hours for EMUs. The winning consortium for this tender is headed by Hirbodan Co. and other contract partners are Barson, Tam Iranhkhodro and Wagon Pars. Barson and tam will achieve the electrification.

Another tender was related to the implementation of ETCS level 2 for ensuring fast and safe railway operation. This project will enable the gradual introduction of high speed rail, the final –long term- goal being to have less than 3 hours for wide body trains on a dedicated high speed line. The winner of this tender is the Iranian company Maharan (source: RAI).