BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 13. Iran aims to increase the volume of cargo transported via railways to 54 million tons in the upcoming Iranian year (from March 21, 2025, through March 20, 2026), said Jabbar Ali Zakeri, Deputy Minister for Roads and Urban Development of Iran, Chairman of the Board and President of the Railways of Iran (RAI), Trend reports.
Speaking to local media during a visit to the Torbat-Heydarieh railway station in the Razavi Khorasan Province, located in northeastern Iran, Zakeri mentioned that currently, the Iranian railway system transports 40 million tons of local and international cargo annually.
Zakeri also highlighted that, from the beginning of the year (from March 20, 2024, through March 11, 2025), Iran has already transported 5 million tons of cargo, including transit, import, and export goods. Of that, 2.4 million tons were transit, while 2.6 million tons were related to imports and exports.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that increasing transit via rail is one of the key priorities for the Iranian Railways. It is possible to enhance transit and cargo transport via rail to and from the country's ports, including Sarakhs, Incheh Borun, Amirabad, and Caspian ports.
Zakeri also stressed the need to increase the loading and unloading potential at railway-connected ports. More cargo can be transported to the southern parts of Iran from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
"According to studies, it is possible to transport 15-20 million tons of foreign cargo using the country's existing railway lines. There are some deficiencies, but by addressing them, the current infrastructure can be improved," he noted.
The official added that Iran plans to transport 22.5 million tons of mining minerals by railway annually, which represents an increase of 7.5 million tons. This target is achievable by resolving current issues with the infrastructure.
He also articulated that approximately 70 percent of railway freight within the nation transits through pivotal regions including Khorasan, Isfahan, Yazd, and Hormozgan, underscoring the strategic significance of these locales.
Zakeri indicated that at the Shahid Rajaei port in southern Iran, the operational throughput of wagon unloading has been optimized for enhanced efficiency. Historically, the throughput of wagon unloading operations was in the range of 60 to 70 units per day; however, current metrics indicate a significant escalation, with daily unloads now reaching 150 wagons.
The total linear extent of rail infrastructure within the territorial confines of Iran measures an impressive 14,984 kilometers. A comprehensive fleet comprising 993 locomotives, 29,950 freight cars, and 2,178 passenger wagons is currently operational across the extensive network of Iran's railroad infrastructure.
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