Tweet
AGREEMENT SIGNED ON ARMENIA - IRAN RAIL LINK
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/news/agreement-signed-on-armenia-%E2%80%93-iran-rail-link.html?channel=542
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Written by Keith Barrow
Armenian trains now run only as far as Yeraskh on the former through
route between Yerevan and Jolfa, Iran. The construction of the
Armenian Southern Railway will restore rail links between the two
countries. Jan Pešula
A tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed in Yerevan on
January 24 concerning the construction of the Southern Armenia Railway,
which will form part of a new north-south corridor linking the Black
Sea and the Persian Gulf.
The agreement was signed by representatives of Dubai-based investment
fund Rasia FZE, Russian Railways (RZD) subsidiary South Caucasus
Railway (SCR), and Armenian minister of transport and communications
Mr Gagik Beglaryan. The ceremony was also attended by government
officials, ambassadors, and fund managers from Armenia, China, Russia,
UAE, and Iran.
The MoU covers the construction of both a 316km railway linking Gavar,
50km east of Yerevan near Lake Sevar, with the Iranian border near
Meghri, and a 110km highway in the southern province of Syunik. The
total cost of the two projects is expected to be around $US 3bn.
In 2012 Rasia FZE signed two concession agreements with the Armenian
government to develop these projects on a PPP basis. The concessions
set deadlines for completing feasibility studies, engineering design,
project financing, and construction, and both have an operating term
of 30 years with an option for a 20 year extension. Feasibility
studies began at the end of December, and Rasia FZE has appointed
China Communications Construction Company as the "lead member of the
development consortium" for the project.
The line will be operated by SCR, which was awarded a 30-year operating
concession for Armenia's 1520mm-gauge national network in February
2008. During the ceremony, Mr Victor Rebets, general director of SCR
said RZD has invested more than Drams 90bn ($US 225m) in its Armenian
operations since it won the concession.
At present the only rail connection between Armenia and Iran is the
line which passes through the autonomous region of Nakhchivan, an
exclave of Azerbaijan. However, because the border between the two
countries is closed the line from Yerevan is operational only as far
as Yeraskh.
http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/news/agreement-signed-on-armenia-%E2%80%93-iran-rail-link.html?channel=542
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Written by Keith Barrow
Armenian trains now run only as far as Yeraskh on the former through
route between Yerevan and Jolfa, Iran. The construction of the
Armenian Southern Railway will restore rail links between the two
countries. Jan Pešula
A tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed in Yerevan on
January 24 concerning the construction of the Southern Armenia Railway,
which will form part of a new north-south corridor linking the Black
Sea and the Persian Gulf.
The agreement was signed by representatives of Dubai-based investment
fund Rasia FZE, Russian Railways (RZD) subsidiary South Caucasus
Railway (SCR), and Armenian minister of transport and communications
Mr Gagik Beglaryan. The ceremony was also attended by government
officials, ambassadors, and fund managers from Armenia, China, Russia,
UAE, and Iran.
The MoU covers the construction of both a 316km railway linking Gavar,
50km east of Yerevan near Lake Sevar, with the Iranian border near
Meghri, and a 110km highway in the southern province of Syunik. The
total cost of the two projects is expected to be around $US 3bn.
In 2012 Rasia FZE signed two concession agreements with the Armenian
government to develop these projects on a PPP basis. The concessions
set deadlines for completing feasibility studies, engineering design,
project financing, and construction, and both have an operating term
of 30 years with an option for a 20 year extension. Feasibility
studies began at the end of December, and Rasia FZE has appointed
China Communications Construction Company as the "lead member of the
development consortium" for the project.
The line will be operated by SCR, which was awarded a 30-year operating
concession for Armenia's 1520mm-gauge national network in February
2008. During the ceremony, Mr Victor Rebets, general director of SCR
said RZD has invested more than Drams 90bn ($US 225m) in its Armenian
operations since it won the concession.
At present the only rail connection between Armenia and Iran is the
line which passes through the autonomous region of Nakhchivan, an
exclave of Azerbaijan. However, because the border between the two
countries is closed the line from Yerevan is operational only as far
as Yeraskh.