Pezeshkian says railroads can strengthen production and expand trade

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said railroad development amounts to a strategic investment in the country's economic future, in a message released on Tuesday to the 19th International Railroad Transportation Conference. According to the message, rail infrastructure can lower transportation costs, save fuel, improve safety and support both domestic production and international trade.

Pezeshkian called for electrifying railroad lines, modernizing rolling stock, removing bottlenecks in the network and encouraging private-sector investment. He described the railroad as one of the main infrastructures capable of connecting production centers to domestic and international markets, reducing transport costs and raising safety, thereby helping strengthen production, expand trade and improve the competitiveness of the national economy.

The president highlighted the importance of developing an East-West transit corridor through Afghanistan and linking it to China's railroad network, particularly via the Herat-Mazar-i-Sharif route and the planned Khavaran-Cheshmeh Sorayya railroad link inside Iran. He said the future of rail transport depends on making use of technical knowhow, technology and innovation.

He also stressed the implementation of smart network management, the development of digital systems, electronic data exchange among the railway sector, customs, ports and transport companies, and the use of modern technologies for fleet maintenance. These steps, he said, should lead to enhanced safety, reduced transit times and improved service quality.

According to Mehr News (MNA), the message was addressed to the international conference on railroad transportation and set out the administration's priorities for the sector, including private-sector participation and cross-border transit links.