Inauguration of the Rasht-Caspian Railway Project: Connecting the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea

On Thursday June 20 2024 the Rasht-Caspian railway project was officially inaugurated in the presence of Mohammad Mokhbar the Acting President of Iran. This railway spanning 37 kilometers has the capacity to transport 7 million tons of cargo and 600000 passengers annually.

The new rail line will reduce the cost of international transportation through the Caspian Sea to Astrakhan in Russia, and eventually to the European Union, by 30%. It serves as a crucial component of the North-South Corridor's middle route, connecting the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf and international waterways. This connection facilitates the exchange of mixed cargo through Iran and is particularly significant as a bridge linking the Eurasian Economic Union with the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

Additionally, the western branch of the North-South Corridor is progressing with the construction of the 162-kilometer Rasht-Astara railway under a contract between Iran and Russia. The Chabahar-Zahedan rail route, forming the eastern branch of this corridor, aims to connect the Shahid Beheshti port of Chabahar to Iran's railway network. This project has achieved 70% physical progress and is expected to be completed within the next year.