Chabahar–Zahedan railway

The Chabahar–Zahedan railway is a railway line currently under construction in Iran.

Chabahar–Zahedan railway
Overview
Status	Under construction
Locale	Iran
Termini	Port of Chabahar Zahedan
History
Planned opening	2024
Technical
Line length	750 km (470 mi)
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)

Location

The rail line is to connect the port of Chahbahar, which is located on the Indian Ocean, to the country's rail network via Zahedan - from 2021 according to the original plans. The port is the only deep-water port in Iran that has direct access to the Indian Ocean without ships having to pass through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. The railroad therefore also has strategic military significance for Iran. For India, this route represents a chance for freight traffic to obtain a water/land connection to Russia, bypassing Pakistan. India was therefore reported to contribute to the construction of the railroad line financially.^[1] There were confusion about Indian involvement in the project later in 2020.^[2]

History

The first tracks were laid in November 2020. Commissioning is scheduled for 2024.^[3]

Technical details

The line will be 750 kilometers long and built on a single track with the standard gauge common in Iran.^[4] The maximum gradient will be 15 ‰ with a maximum curve radius of 1000 meters. The line is designed for a maximum permissible speed of 120 km/h for passenger trains and 90 km/h for freight trains. It is planned to transport 1.3 million tons of goods in the first year of operation, which is planned to be increased to 35 million tons within the next 20 years.^[5]

Expansion plans

At a later date, the route is to be extended from Zahedan around 800 kilometers north via Mashhad to Seraqs on the border with Turkmenistan.^[6] This will create a north–south connection along Iran's eastern border, giving the landlocked Central Asian states the shortest access to a seaport. A branch to Afghanistan is planned near Zaranj to facilitate trade in goods.^[7]