look a lot better than what it looked several years ago but still need a lot of work , specially need the one in east of Iran ASAP
The east is challenging due to its low population density (except for Khorasane Shomali, the northern half of Khorasane Razavi, Golestan, the Kerman area and some coastal strips) and the great distances between large towns, so for these sorts of investments to be justified economically, they need to yield more than the income generated by passenger services. Even though terrain on the whole is less of an obstacle than in the west and north-west of the country, which decreases the costs.
But this is probably why these eastern regions have not ranked first in terms of chronological priority for the construction of new railway lines. However, with the development of international transit through Iran (trade corridors), in part thanks to China's New Silk Road initiative and Russia's confrontation with the west, and with above average demographic growth in Sistan-Baluchestan as well as the progressive industrialization of eastern and south-eastern Iran, economic profitability is increasingly ensured as well.
This said, I am of the belief that heavy fixed infrastructures, railroads in particular, must cover the entire national territory and connect all important population centers even if their economical viability is limited, because this is a factor of national integration and therefore it serves national security as well as social stability. Moreover, it's also a matter of social justice and equality between different regions of the country, and social equity is a fundamental pillar of the value system upon which an Islamic Republic rests.
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Thanks for the map Salar..I can actually see that shortcut line as dotted in the map..I tried to find one to see the shortcut but had no luck..
The shortcut is the green line between Miyane and Bostan Abad. Between there and Tabriz is the last stretch that still needs to be completed. The old path is the pink-red one, connecting Miyane to Tabriz through Maraqe. I believe the geographic course of the new line may not be 100% accurate, so it may come across as a bit longer than it actually is. Also the black dotted line running parallel to the new connection indicates that a second track is under construction.
