Turkey-Iran-Pakistan cargo train restarts after 10-year halt

[ghazi52]

Turkey-Iran-Pakistan cargo train restarts after 10-year halt

ITI can complete journey between the 3 countries in about 14 days, much faster and less costly than alternate route


Anadolu Agency
December 21, 2021

The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) cargo train was started in 2009 but suspended in 2011. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY

KARACHI: Following a 10-year hiatus, a freight train service between Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan was re-launched on Tuesday in a major boost for trade among the three countries and within the region.

The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) cargo train was started in 2009 but suspended in 2011 due to several delays in Pakistan.

It can complete the journey between the three countries in about 14 days, much faster and less costly than the alternate sea route.

The train departed from Pakistan’s capital for Europe’s largest city with dozens of containers.
It will cover 1,990 kilometers (1,235 miles) inside Pakistan, before crossing through the Taftan border for a 2,603-kilometer (1,620 miles) stretch in Iran.

The train will travel some 1,850 kilometres (1,150 miles) in Turkey, passing through the capital Ankara before reaching its final stop in Istanbul.

Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran are founders of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), a 10-member regional cooperation bloc that was established in 1964 as the Regional Cooperation for Development and renamed ECO in 1985.

The decision to resume the ITI cargo train service was taken at a ministerial meeting of ECO member states in 2020.

At Tuesday’s ceremony in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi hailed the “historic” development as a step that will open new avenues for trade and business in the region and beyond.

He said an ITI passenger train could also be launched in the future to further enhance regional connectivity and economic integration.

Mustafa Yurdakul, Turkey’s ambassador to Pakistan, said the resumption of the cargo train service is an important move part of the ECO framework and vision.

“This project has been on the agenda for a long time. It is a step that will improve bilateral cooperation and bolster economic and commercial exchanges between our countries,” he said, emphasising that the rail link should be extended further to other parts of Europe.







Mustafa Yurdakul /مصطفی

@Mustafa_MFA

We are set to inaugurate the cargo train from #Islamabad to #Istanbul via #Tehran
@ECO_int

@MFATurkiye

@ForeignOfficePk
@UABakanligi



6:32 AM · Dec 21, 2021·

 

[dBSPL]

More infrastructure investment is needed. We should work harder on reducing trade barriers... perhaps even on a common customs union. We are content with very little of the great potential we can still use.

 

[aryobarzan]

2nd shipment..looks like this ITI route is getting some traction.Pakistani 500 tons of TALC to Turkish consumers through Iran..

2nd freight train along Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Corridor enters Tehran

Tehran (ISNA) - After successful resumption of Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) train as part of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Corridor, the second freight train left Islamabad on 29 December to the destination of Istanbul through Iran's railway network.
24 Pakistani covered freight wagons are carrying 525 tons Talc powder in 50 km packages from Azakhel dry-port.
The freight arrived in Iran through Mirjaveh Border, while the transshipment and formal custom procedures is done in Zahedan Station. It enters Turkey's territory through Razi Border in Iran.
The freight is transiting under CIM Uniform Rules.
Iran's transport policy is rail connectivity with the neighboring countries in order to increase international transactions, promote freight and passenger transport, and increase mutual interests.
Previously, the ECO freight train resumed operation along Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Corridor on 21 December 2021.
Istanbul–Tehran–lslamabad railway is about 6500 km of which 1990 km is in Pakistan's territory, 2603 km in Iran’s territory, and 1950 km within Turkey’s territory.
Compared to the maritime routes, ECO train is the most effective mode of transport for freight transfer along the route as the travel time is estimated to be less than half (11.5 days). This is very important in expanding export and commercial transactions between the member countries.
The route has been recognized as an international corridor by the United Nations.
Far from connecting these three countries, the corridor is expected to form a link between Europe and Asia. As from Istanbul, there are connections to Europ

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan-Iran-Turkiye cargo train reaches Ankara, restarting route after 10 years

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/haber
Anadolu
8:22 PM | January 05, 2022


A ceremony was held at the Turkish capital on Wednesday to mark the arrival of the first Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) train carrying goods from Pakistan to Turkiye, via Iran after the resumption of its operations.

The ITI cargo train started its journey from Islamabad on Dec. 21, 2021, and arrived in Ankara in around 13 days. Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoglu, Member of Pakistan National Assembly Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, and Iranian Ambassador to Turkiye Mohammad Farazmand attended the ceremony.

Departing from the Margalla station in Islamabad, the train took a route of 5,981 kilometers (3,666 miles) in 12 days and 21 hours. The cargo train aims to boost trade between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkiye. It comprises eight loaded wagons, 20 feet each with a capacity of 22 tons.

Karaismailoglu in his speech said the new railway will offer new options to the industrialists and businesspeople on the Pakistan-Iran-Turkiye route.

"It will save time and cost compared to sea transportation between Pakistan and Turkiye, which takes 35 days, and will lead to the development of trade between the two countries," he said.

"Thus, with the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train, a new railway corridor will be provided to our exporters in the south of Asia -- having the highest population density globally -- reaching Pakistan, neighboring India, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. In this way, our country will be one step closer to its goals of becoming a bridge and logistics base between Asia and Europe," Karaismailoglu added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Qureshi highlighted that the ITI train would play an important role in enhancing regional connectivity and promotion of economic and commercial activities in the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) region. Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye established the Regional Cooperation for Development organization in 1964 and renamed it ECO in 1985.

Qureshi added that the train would offer Pakistan an opportunity to further increase its exports and strengthen its connectivity with international markets, including in Europe.

"The current government in Pakistan believes in regional connectivity and we feel that to play a role at the national stage we need to be economically reliable. In order to do that, we need to not only have peace in our region but also increase the trade within our neighborhood and this ITI project will become a friendship project.

"We get access to the European markets and Turkey gets access to the central Asian states so it is a mutually beneficial arrangement and I hope it will be sustainable and we can grow from it further," Qureshi told Anadolu Agency in an interview.

Ambassador Farazmand in his speech said the ITI railway project was first launched in 2009 under the economic cooperation organization but remained suspended due to technical issues and restarted after 10 years.

He emphasized that the three countries also plan to launch a passenger train to the same route in the near future.

The first train from Islamabad to Istanbul was inaugurated on Aug. 14, 2009. Since then, eight trains have been dispatched from Pakistan to Turkiye. Turkiye has also dispatched six trains to Pakistan, but the train service was discontinued due to floods in Pakistan in 2009.

 

[dBSPL]

The train, which left Pakistan-Islamabad's Margalla station on December 21, 2021, completed the 5 thousand 981 kilometer track, including 1990 kilometers in Pakistan, 2 thousand 603 kilometers in Iran and 1388 kilometers in Turkey, total in 12 days and 21 hours, and reached Ankara. With some regulations, it is possible to reduce this period to 11 days.

The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad freight train will save time and cost compared to sea transportation, which takes 30-35 days between Pakistan and Turkey, and will gain the feature of a very valuable trade line between these countries.

With the lifting of the US sanctions on Iran and the end of the war in Afghanistan, the Pakistan-Iran-Turkey logistics corridor will increase its importance even more.

 

[aziqbal]

and when is the restart likely to stop again next week ?

this is ridiculous taking into account the population and size of our nation

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Masha'Allah, this is superb. The best news I've heard in 2022 so far. I pray to Allah Aza'Wa-Jall this inter-trade between the 3 countries expands manifolds.

 

[Bilal9]

As soon as the trains enters from Van, freights enters the European railway network with track change. So You can try to stop it yourself when it arrives in the UK.

Looks like Turkish freight lines are standard gauge (light blue) and not broad gauge (mint green) like Pakistan.

Iran is the same case (mostly standard gauge with some broad gauge).

Guessing Van is the Kurdish-populated city in eastern Turkey. Don't know how gauge change is handled (if at all).

Broad-gauge railway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

By the way - map below is not totally accurate on Bangladesh. Most of Bangladesh is now dual-gauge (Meter and Broad Gauge on same track).

 

[Sineva]

Those must`ve been some truly fvcking hellacious "technical issues" if it took 10 years to fix them.
The main thing now tho` that it is up and running,is to ensure that it stays up and running and does not once again succumb to unforeseen "technical issues",as I have no doubt that the west will continue to try and pressure pakistan to once again cut its own throat when it comes to any and all economic deals with iran,especially one like this that is a big win-win-win for all 3 countries involved.
Time will tell,I guess.

 

[Maira La]

Forgive me for asking an unrelated question but are you realy in north korea who does that even work ?

Fat boy Kim don't like PDF so it's definitely not accessible from North Korea.

 

[Stryker1982]

Those must`ve been some truly fvcking hellacious "technical issues" if it took 10 years to fix them.
The main thing now tho` that it is up and running,is to ensure that it stays up and running and does not once again succumb to unforeseen "technical issues",as I have no doubt that the west will continue to try and pressure pakistan to once again cut its own throat when it comes to any and all economic deals with iran,especially one like this that is a big win-win-win for all 3 countries involved.
Time will tell,I guess.

The rail lines run through some of the most harshest terrain in the world. The mountainous regions in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey are no joke, but I think it is likely the sanctions on Iran that caused the halt.

 

[Sineva]

The rail lines run through some of the most harshest terrain in the world. The mountainous regions in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey are no joke, but I think it is likely the sanctions on Iran that caused the halt.

You and me both........
Heres hoping that from now on the other 2 participants in this endeavor can put their interests first......rather than the wests.

 

[retaxis]

Looks like the station is very close to china western region. May possibly extend a little further and gain a lot more trade and investment.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

14 Days is not bad transit time , could be faster if the infrastructure was newer with greater speed
Bu technically if the route becomes reliable , shippers can reliably ship packages by ground shipping to customers in Turkey - Iran - Pakistan in 15-16 days Ground shipping

 

[Meengla]

Nice news. Hope the passenger trains also start soon. Imagine from the western most regions of the UK to Pakistan and then to India and beyond--all land route!
Question: I thought the train crossing at Van between Iran and Turkey was stopped some years ago? And that those taking the train had to cross the border on some boats on Lake Van and then board different train??