TEHRAN – Surrounded by lush green vistas, the rail heritage in Mazandaran province, which is part of the UNESCO-designated Trans-Iranian Railway, is a great tourism destination for domestic and foreign sightseers.

The historical rail route, which is 382 km in length, embraces many arch bridges, tunnels, and overpasses. It goes through old-grown forests, mountains, and fertile plains.

Traveling through Iran’s northern coastal town offers views of the Caspian Sea and the green peaks of Alborz, as well as the opportunity to explore ancient villages and their hospitable people.

Over the past couple of years, spectacular train journeys have been available for rail adventures via special tourism trains.

The Trans-Iranian Railway connects the Caspian Sea in the northeast with the Persian Gulf in the southwest and crosses two mountain ranges, rivers, plateaus, forests, plains, and four different climate zones.

Started in 1927 and completed in 1938, the 1,394-km railway was designed and built as a result of successful cooperation between the Iranian government and 43 contracting companies from different countries.

The railway is distinguished by its scale and the engineering work required to overcome vertical lines and other difficulties. Construction required extensive excavation in some areas and the construction of 224 tunnels in others, including 174 main bridges, 186 auxiliary bridges, and 11 spiral tunnels. Unlike many previous railway projects, the construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway was financed by state taxes to avoid foreign investment and control.

AM