TEHRAN – The head of the Islamic republic of Iran Railways (RAI) has said that only locomotives with a reliability of above 80 percent are allowed to commute in the country’s major railway lines, the portal of the Transport and Urban Development Ministry reported.

Speaking in a meeting with the managers of locomotive-owning companies on the sidelines of the 10th International Exhibition of Rail Transportation, Related Industries and Equipment of Iran on Wednesday, Miad Salehi urged the mentioned companies to increase the safety level of the locomotives that such companies are using under the RAI supervision.

The official has also announced that the quality of railway passenger transportation services in the country is going to be significantly improved.

“Considering the financial resources allocated for the development of the railway industry, we will soon see a jump in the quality of rail passenger transportation services,” Salehi reiterated.

During a press conference held in early August, Salehi mentioned the development of railways as a necessary factor for the economic surge in the country.

He reiterated that the development of the transportation sector is vital for the economic surge, and the railway is the pillar for development in this sector.

The official also stated that RAI is seriously negotiating with other countries, especially the neighbors, to promote railway transit via Iran.

He further announced that passenger transportation via railway hit a record high in the past Iranian calendar year 1401, adding that 29.67 million passengers were transported via the national railway in the previous year, indicating also a 43-percent growth year on year.

EF/MA