5 Russian transit trains on way to Iran

[Maybach]

From 'Tehran Times':

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/477263/5-Russian-transit-trains-on-way-to-Iran

Interesting...

On October 1, Miad Salehi had announced that the second Russian transit cargo for India has entered Iran from the northeastern Sarakhs border and was heading towards Bandar Abbas in the south.

According to the RAI head, carrying 37 containers the freight train had passed the route of Russia-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan into Iran and would pass another 1,600 kilometers across the International North South Transit Corridor (INSTC) inside the country to arrive at Bandar Abbas Port where the cargo will be shipped to India.

Russia’s first freight transit train arrived in Iran in mid-July.

The rail transit cargo from Russia to India entered Iran on July 12 through the Sarakhs border crossing, to officially launch the eastern section of the North-South railway corridor.

The Russian train was allowed into the Iranian border in a ceremony attended by First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber along with transport, oil, industry, and agriculture ministers as well as the vice president for science and technology.

Speaking at that ceremony, Mokhber stressed the Iranian government’s determination for expanding trade with neighboring countries, especially in the transit sector, saying: “The transit capacity of the country has increased to 20 million tons and by planning and taking appropriate measures, transiting 300 million tons of commodities per year can be reached.”

The North-South Corridor consists of three route sections, namely East, West, and Middle.

Iran and Russia are also cooperating in the maritime sector to use the Caspian Sea to shorten the transit route from Russia to India.

 

[MarcVD]

So they still take the Sea route to bypass Pakistan, despite the fact that there is a rail connection all the way. Is it for political reasons, security (how stable is Baluchistan those days?), or is the Zahedan Quetta railway in such a bad shape ? In any case, the transit through Zahedan that was expected with the completion of the line from Kerman hasn't really materialized yet...

 

[busestrains]

So they still take the Sea route to bypass Pakistan, despite the fact that there is a rail connection all the way. Is it for political reasons, security (how stable is Baluchistan those days?), or is the Zahedan Quetta railway in such a bad shape ? In any case, the transit through Zahedan that was expected with the completion of the line from Kerman hasn't really materialized yet...

There is a change of gauge at Zahedan so perhaps that is why. I am not sure whether Zahedan has any facilities to change the bogies on wagons. I know that on the passenger trains you have to change trains. So perhaps that is why. Although they could just transfer everything to separate wagons at Zahedan as that is no different to having to transfer everything to the ship.

It would be interesting to know more about the status of that line though. Some information seems to suggest that the passenger trains between Zahedan and Quetta are running. But it is difficult to get any accurate up to date information.

 

[dutchflyer]

Best source of info is again likely seat61.
I kind of recall that passengers/travellers-those who have succeeded in getting visa and entry into Pakistan are only every now and then transported under armed escorts via an area deemed unsafe, and by road in a convoy as most of those are in their own transport anyway. But this may well have been outdated-plus that entry into Iran for westerners in the current times is also not really encouraged.
Perhaps the goods to be transported are also not really meant to go into Pakistan.

 

[Maybach]

There's a bit more about here on Railfreight.com:

Russia-India corridor now goes east, middle and west

The eastern branch of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a fact. Six trains are currently en route overland, from Russia to India via Turkmenistan and Iran. These trains indicate the increased interest in transport by rail from Russia to India, as multiple routes are...

www.railfreight.com

This gives much better detail than the 'Tehran Times'!

 

[MarcVD]

There is a change of gauge at Zahedan so perhaps that is why. I am not sure whether Zahedan has any facilities to change the bogies on wagons. I know that on the passenger trains you have to change trains.

There is something possibly looking like a transloading facility visible on Google Maps south of Zahedan City. It does not seem connected to the wide gauge track (yet) but I don’t know how old those pictures are. I remember that some years ago the first India to Turkey container train was announced with great fanfare. Don’t know whether there ever was a second one. They must have transferred those containers from wide to standard gauge wagons some way or another, though.

Pakistan-Iran-Turkiye cargo train reaches Ankara after 13-day journey

After a 10-year halt, cargo train service between Turkiye, Iran, and Pakistan has been relaunched in a major boost for trade among the three countries and within the region.

www.trtworld.com

Passenger trains on this line is just a single carriage added to a goods train twice a month.