RZD Holding has began work on the electrification of the Garmsar - Inche Burun line in Iran following the ceremonial launch of the project on 2 July 2018 in Tehran.

The formal launch was attended by Oleg Belozerov, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Russian Railways, Abbas Akhoundi, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development, and Said Mohammadzadeh, President of the Iranian Railways.

“The electrification of this line will have a significant economic effect since by doubling speeds, it will increase the throughput four-fold to 10 million tons per annum. We also believe positive effects will result from increased transportation safety and security and a reduction of emissions into the atmosphere. All this will create the conditions for an increase of freight flows along the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC) and an intensification of economic relations around the Caspian region,” said Oleg Belozerov.

Belozerov also stressed that the project was designed to be completed in four years and four months.

“I am sure that during this time a wide range of experience will be accumulated that will be useful for both our countries and become a good basis for implementing new joint projects in the field of infrastructure development,” said the head of Russian Railways.

The project provides for the electrification of the Garmsar-Ince Burun line, which has a total length of 495 km, including 203 km through mountainous terrain. The line has 31 stations and passes through 95 tunnels.

The contract also provides for the supply of electric locomotives and equipment for the maintenance of the contact network, the signalling arrangements, as well as the provision of technical support during the first year of operation.

The cost of the project is about 1.2 billion euros, including the supply of locomotives and track equipment.

The work under the contract will be performed by RZD International, a subsidiary of Russian Railways.

(Source: RZD)