TEHRAN, Iran, June 29
Trend:
Iran is negotiating to launch passenger train from Tehran to Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and to Turkish capital Ankara, said Managing Director of Railway in Azerbaijan Province.
Shapour Arsalani has discussed the issue and process of negotiations in an interview with Trend.
"There have been negotiations for resuming passenger trains with Turkish and Nakhchivan representatives, but currently, there are no transportation of passengers between Iran, Nakhchivan and Turkey due to the coronavirus spread and health protocols," the managing director said.
"When the Health and Foreign Ministries of Iran agree to reopen the borders based on health protocols, we will take steps to resume travels by train," Arsalani said.
"We are waiting for the decision related to health protocols and limitations, since there is high demand for passenger trains from Iran and other countries," he added.
"The ticket price is set up by the market regulatory organization, but we expect that the ticket price for the current Iranian year [started March 20, 2020] will increase 20 percent," Arsalani said.
"Iran's cargo trade with Turkey via train transportation is very good; during the times when borders were closed due to coronavirus spread, thanks to implementing health protocols the cargo trade via trains has only halted for a few days in February," he added.
"The volume of cargo trade between Iran and Turkey via train during first three months of last Iranian year increased, including 250-percent increase of import and 150-percent growth of export," he said.
"Iran has exported 88,126 tons of goods to Turkey in first three months of current Iranian year via train compared to 38,667 tons during the same period of the last year," Arsalani added.
"During first three months of current Iranian year, more than 95,670 tons of goods were imported from Turkey compare to 25,987 tons in the last year," he said.