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Russian & Iranian railroads may become part of single int'l network

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  • Russian & Iranian railroads may become part of single int'l network

    RIA Novosti, Russia
    April 7 2004

    RUSSIAN AND IRANIAN RAILROADS MAY BECOME PART OF A SINGLE
    INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT NETWORK


    MOSCOW, April 7, 2004. (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Iran share a common
    view on a strategy of developing of international transport
    corridors, Gennady Fadeyev, the president of Russian Railways, said
    after talks in Tehran with Iranian Minister of Roads and Transport
    Ahmad Khoram and the head of the Iranian Railways, Mohammad Saeid
    Nejad.

    Mr. Fadeyev's statement was included in a Russian Railways press
    release.

    "The sides agreed on a common development strategy for organizing
    international transport corridors for both countries' railroads. The
    north-south corridor plays a key role here," the press release notes.


    During the talks, Mr. Fadeyev and his Iranian counterparts discussed
    the possibility of transporting cargo by a Europe-Russia-Iran route
    and which would eventually end in Madras, India.

    The $177 million project to build a railroad from Astara (on the
    Azerbaijan-Iran border) to Qazvin (200 kilometers northwest of
    Tehran) was also discussed.

    According to Mr. Fadeyev, Russian Railways can participate in
    designing and building the railroad. There is also a proposal to set
    up an Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia consortium to operate this section
    of the railroad.

    If this railroad is built and the border-crossing point at Julfa (in
    the Nakhichevan autonomy of Azerbaijan) is restored the north-south
    transport corridor will have three high-capacity outlets - a Caspian
    Sea port, a railroad across Azerbaijan, and a railroad through
    Armenia.

    Iran displayed interest in cooperating with the Russians in
    purchasing accessories: wheels, railroad car casting, rails and
    sleeper cars. The press release says that the issues concerning the
    delivering of safety systems was also discussed.

    The Russian Railways president and Iran's minister of roads and
    transport discussed the prospect of setting up a direct, non-stop
    Moscow-Tehran line. They hope that Azerbaijan, the line will pass
    through its territory, will support the idea.

    The economic advantages of the north-south transport corridor to
    transport goods to and from Europe and Asia compared with the sea
    route via the Suez canal were emphasized at the meeting, the press
    release notes.

    The cost of transporting cargo from Frankfurt by sea is estimated at
    $5,670 for a 40-foot container, while transporting it through the
    north-south corridor will only cost $3,670. The transportation time
    will also be cut from five days to three, the press release says.
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