TEHRAN - Iran’s rail transit is going to set a new record in the current Iranian calendar year (ends on March 20, 2024), according to the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI).

Miad Salehi said the rail transit through the country registered a five percent hike in the first five months of the current calendar year (March 21-August 22) compared to the same period last year, the portal of Iran’s Transport Ministry reported.

Speaking in a news briefing on the sidelines of the seventh edition of Iran International Exhibition of Transportation, Logistics and Related Industries dubbed, Salehi pointed out that 21.6 million passengers were transported in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 21) through the rail transportation network, also showing a 10 percent hike compared to the last year’s corresponding period.

It is expected that 30 million passengers will be transported in the country by the end of the current Iranian calendar year, which will be another record in the history of the railway company, he stated.

The deputy Transport Minister also pointed to the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) inked with the partners and neighboring states including Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Turkey and stated that a part of these agreements will become operational in early 2024.

’Iran could export freight wagons to other countries’

Salehi also mentioned the high quality of Iran-made freight wagons and noted that the country could export such wagons to other countries.

“We do not have any problems in the production of freight wagons, and good facilities are equipped in the country and due to the good quality of domestically produced wagons, there is a possibility of export,” the official said.

According to Salehi, production of freight wagons has increased by 48 percent in the current year and the production of new freight locomotives has also grown by 92 percent.

EF/MA