Iran, Afghanistan to Cooperate for Removing Problems Facing Khaf-Herat Railway
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The advisor to Iran's minister of roads and urban development Seyyed Hossein Mirshafi, announced the first freight train's launch on the Khaf-Herat Railway, highlighting successful collaborative efforts between Iran and Afghanistan in resolving issues and deficiencies.
The first shipment was transported to Roznak Station in Afghanistan’s Herat via Iran’s railway, Mirshafi stated.
According to the agreement of cooperation made between Iran and Afghanistan, it was agreed that Afghanistan Railway Development Consortium will remove the deficiencies at the third section of Khaf-Herat Railway within the six months in line with maximizing the capacity of the rail line, he added.
Stating that Section No. 4 of the railway will also be constructed by the rail consortium, Mir-Shafi added that the two sides agreed on the significance of constructing China-Afghanistan-Iran rail corridor.
Accordingly, officials of the two countries have emphasized on attracting investment and China’s participation in this giant project as joint venture (JV).
Khaf-Herat Railway completes the 2000-km route in the east-west rail corridor of the world from China, Afghanistan and Iran to Europe, he underlined.
This railway connects Afghanistan, as a landlocked country without access to the high waters of the world, to the railway network and southern ports of Iran, and provides a safe route for communication with the Europe, the adviser added.
Stating that Khaf-Herat Railway is ‘strategic’ for Iran and Afghanistan trade, he emphasized that the railway has the annual capacity of transporting five million tons of goods and also one million passengers.
