Tehran, Iran, Aug.17
Trend:
Iran is negotiating plans to operate rail roads that will connect the country to Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Head of Iran-Turkey Chamber of Commerce Reza Kami talked about the rail cooperation with the two countries in an interview with Trend.
"There is a need for new capacities to have railway development to address issues in the railway connection between Iran and Turkey," he said.
"The capacity of the current railway is limited and there is a problem of crossing Lake Van. Over the past few years, there have been negotiations, but no plans have been implemented yet," he noted.
"It is expected that new rail track through Bazargan (Iran) is established and there is another plan to connect Kas (Turkey) – Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan) – Jolfa (Iran) region," he said referring to the rail negotiations.
The official noted that suggested plans are currently still at the negotiation stage. "There is a need for activities to implement these plans to develop the railway connection," he added.
"The passenger transportation by rail between Iran and Turkey has been carried out for a long time. It has been recently agreed to resume the work of Tehran – Istanbul railway, which is one of the old railways," he said, adding that this will help to further develop tourism between the two countries.
"Tourism between Iran and Turkey is well developed; about two million Iranian citizens travel to Turkey every year," he noted.