TEHRAN- The Iranian railway fleet received 558 new domestically-made or renovated wagons and locomotives worth 36.27 trillion rials (about $72.54 million), in a ceremony on Wednesday.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials including Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (known as RAI) Miad Salehi, the portal of the Transport Ministry reported.

The mentioned wagons and locomotives include 516 freight wagons, 12 new locomotives, five renovated locomotives, eight new passenger wagons, and 17 renovated passenger wagons, all manufactured and renovated by domestic companies.

The development of the railway sector has been one of the macro policies of the Iranian government as it has been emphasized by the general policies of the country’s national development plans.

In this regard, the national railway fleet has constantly received new domestically-made locomotives and wagons in the past and current Iranian calendar years.

Last year, a total of 1,660 wagons and locomotives were added to the country’s railway fleet in four stages.

Advantages such as consuming less fuel and creating less pollution as well as high safety attach priority to the railway when compared to some other transportation systems, and make its development economically viable.

EF/