Iran plans a major railway in its northwest to close the gap in a second rail corridor between China and Europe, according to Iranian transportation minister Farzaneh Sadegh.
Tehran - ISNA - Speaking on Tuesday at the China Railway Express Cooperation Forum in Xi'an, in northwest China, Sadegh said that Iran is determined to complete the rail link between Marand, in its East Azerbaijan province, to Cheshmeh Sorayya, on the border with Turkey.
Sadegh said that Iran has a fixed policy to expand its east-west transit infrastructure to align with China’s Belt and Road initiative, a multi-trillion-dollar project seeking to improve transportation infrastructures linking China to Europe, Asia, and Africa.
“This project will transform the Silk Road's southern wing into a full rail corridor, ensuring a continuous network from China to Europe for the fast, low-cost transport of cargo with minimal stops,” she said.
This is the first time that Iranian officials are highlighting the importance of the Marand- Cheshmeh Sorayya railway project.
Authorities, who said last year they were finalizing funding for the 200-kilometer line, estimate it could cost up to $1.6 billion.
The project aims to create a more direct alternative to Iran's existing rail link to Turkey, which currently runs from Tabriz through Marand to Van.
Iranian and Turkish railway authorities held a meeting in April to discuss the project's potential and its connection to the railway in Kars, in northeast Turkey.
Iran has made heavy investments in its transport infrastructure in recent years to secure a larger share of regional cargo transit revenues.