TEHRAN – President of the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran Miad Salehi in a trip to Iraq followed up completion of Shalamcheh-Basra railway that connects the two countries railroads.
Salehi has travelled to Iraq at the invitation of the CEO of Iraq’s railways. During the trip, he said, he has discussed constructing Shalamacheh-Basra railway with the Iraqi counterpart to connect the railway systems of Iran and Iraq so that people of both countries can enjoy economic benefits of rail transportation.
He said that one of the goals of the project is to facilitate rail passenger transport for Iranians who wish to take pilgrimage to the holy places in Iraq, especially in Karbala and Najaf.
Freight transport is another goal which will allow full deployment of rail capacities in both countries in trade transactions between Iran and Iraq, Salehi added.
During his meeting with Iraqi official, Salehi said, the two had agreed to facilitate combinational transportation until the project is complete.