TEHRAN – The number of people who traveled by rail rose by 6.5 percent during the current Iranian calendar year (to end on March 20) in comparison with a year earlier.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (IRIR) achieved a 6.5-percent year-on-year increase though it withdrew timeworn cars from service, IRIB quoted Saeid Rasouli, an official with IRIR, as saying on Friday.

He did not refer to any specific figures in this regard.

Renovation projects as well as launching new routes have been amongst development efforts, the official added.

Rasouli forecasted that the total number of rail journeys to hit 1.8 million during Noruz, the two-week New Year holidays, starting March 21.

AFM/MG