Two high-speed lines, a test centre and staff training: these are the highlights of the framework agreement on cooperation between FS Italiane and RAI (Iranian Railways) signed today in Tehran by FS Italiane CEO, Renato Mazzoncini and Iranian Deputy Minister of Transport and RAI Chairman Pour Seyed Aghaei, at a ceremony attended by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani;
Today’s agreement, which follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the parties on 9 February, confirms FS Italiane as the favoured candidate to develop Iran’s rail network: as main contractor, FS Italiane will design, develop and test the high-speed lines from Tehran-Hamedan and Qom-Arak, whilst Italcertifer, FS Italiane Group’s wholly-owned certification company, will work on the design, execution and certification of the Iranian Railways’ Test Centre, where infrastructure and rolling stock will be trialled using advanced equipment.
The agreement also foresees a comprehensive training programme for Iranian Railways staff, also to be supplied by FS Italiane.
The cooperative ventures will be funded by export credits from Italian investment bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the banking system, which are fully guaranteed by Italy’s export credit agency SACE (CDP Group). Interest rates will be kept stable thanks to the participation of Italian overseas investment agency SIMEST (CDP Group).
FS Italiane CEO Renato Mazzoncini said: “This cooperation agreement confirms the high demand at international level for Italian know-how in the railway sector. We are very proud to contribute in a concrete way to Italy’s success around the world: expansion into foreign markets and the internationalization of our activities, in terms of both infrastructure and competitive routes on European corridors, will be key points in the business plan we are working on."
Iran’s railway infrastructure covers around 10,000 kilometres, and is set to grow to 25,000 km by 2025. Some 7,500 kilometres of new lines are already under construction.
(Source: FS)
