Almaty: Iran is interested in activating the southern direction of the ‘Silk Road’ route by rail, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Executive Director of the Iran Railways Company Jabbar Ali Zakeri said at the 7th “New Silk Road” freight trade and logistics forum held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on September 30, Trend reports.

According to Trend News Agency, the restoration of the traditional Silk Road in the 21st century is due to China’s Belt and Road initiative and the development of railway lines. This initiative serves as a bridge between the East and the West, with railway corridors playing a special role in this connection.

Zakeri highlighted China’s railway routes connecting Europe through the Northern Corridor (Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus), the Middle Corridor (Kazakhstan, Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), and the Southern Corridor (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Trkiye). Since the start of work on these routes, more than 102,000 container trains have moved between China and Europe, with 19,000 trains operating on these routes in 2024 alone.

The deputy minister noted that in recent years, the Middle Corridor has witnessed growth, with the volume of cargo transported increasing to 56,500 TEU containers, equivalent to 4.5 million tons last year. Zakeri explained the potential of the Southern Corridor passing through Iran, expressing Iran’s readiness to develop this corridor in collaboration with China and other countries in the region, aiming to enhance its share in railway exchanges between Asia and Europe.

He emphasized the importance of increasing cooperation between Railway Companies and Administrations in regional railway corridors, eliminating existing obstacles, and maximizing the potential of railway freight transportation for international trade. Currently, the length of railway lines in Iran is 14,984 kilometers, with 993 locomotives, 29,950 freight wagons, and 2,178 passenger wagons in operation on Iranian railway lines.