TEHRAN – The managing director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, Jabbar-Ali Zakeri, has announced plans to launch new train routes connecting Tehran with Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and Herat in Afghanistan in the coming weeks.  
The railways chief said the Tehran-Ankara train is set to launch within two months, while the route to Herat will begin within a month.
Plans are also underway to launch train routes to Mary in Turkmenistan and Dushanbe in Tajikistan, he added.
Zakeri pointed to the recent launch of the Tehran-Van train after a five-year delay and said that all international train routes from Iran would help strengthen connectivity between nations.
He also emphasized the development of tourist trains, highlighting Iran’s railway potential as a significant source of revenue.