TEHRAN - The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (known as RAI) has announced that the company is taking new measures to boost the efficiency of the country’s railway industry by 20 percent during the second half of the current Iranian calendar year (September 22, 2024-March 20, 2025).

Jabar-Ali Zakeri said RAI is determined to benefit from the views of the private railway companies, scholars, and experts to achieve the mentioned goal, IRNA reported.

He noted that the railway industry is currently 10 percent behind the scheduled plans for growth in the first six months of the current year, saying: “For the next five months, a plan will be developed to repair the locomotives and manage them so that a 20 percent jump will be achieved in the second six months.”

The Deputy Transport Minister called for the reform of the structure, especially in the field of foreign trade, and noted: “It is necessary to make some modifications in the tariff rates so that the rate of rail tariff is suitable compared to the road transport and traders prefer rail to the road transport.”

He mentioned the agreements reached between RAI and the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) and stated: “A joint action plan has been developed so that rail-friendly loads will be identified in the ports in the next month and the share of cargo transported from ports will reach 25 percent at the end of the program.”

Earlier this week, Zakeri said Iran welcomes cooperation with the TRACECA member countries in the field of transportation.

He made the remarks in a meeting with TRACECA Corridor Secretary General Asset Assavbayev in Tehran.

Referring to the country's 7th national development plan to increase the amount of cargo transit, both by rail and road, he said: “We will welcome the transportation cooperation with TRASECA member countries.”

The RAI head also mentioned Iran's freight transit capacities on rail and road routes, and stated, “Iran's railways now have a good relationship with a significant number of TRASECA member countries in the field of transportation, and we hope that this interaction with 13 other countries, increase day by day.”

EF/MA