Iran planning to boost transit, exports of commodities to Europe

Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi underlined the vital importance of railway projects for the country's economic boom, and said Tehran is resolved to provide the needed investment for standardizing its railroads to boost transit and exports of goods to European countries. "The construction process of the 180 kilometers (km) out of the 200 km double-railway is now underway. The officials in charge are planning to start constructing the remaining 20 kilometers too," said the minister while paying a visit to the construction project of Tabriz-Miyaneh double-railway in Northwestern part of Iran which will pave the ground for exports and transit of more commodities via Iran to European states. Akhoundi reiterated that the project is aimed at boosting the Iran-Europe transit route. With up to 500 km of new lines per year, Iran's railway has one of the quickest growing networks in the world. Many new destinations have been added since the last few years and new services have been introduced on existing lines. By 2015 Iran expects to reach every regional capital by rail.