Iran to become self-sufficient in rail production

I ran will become self-sufficient in rail production once a projected 300,000 tonnes rail manufacturing company comes on stream; IRNA quoted Isfahan Steel Company managing director Ardeshir Sa’d Mohammadi said.

“The country needs some 150,000 tonnes of UIC60 rails per annum,” he stated. “So, the factory can fully meet the domestic need and the rest can be exported.”

Over Euro150 million will be invested to launch the factory, he said, adding that its output can be increased up to 500,000 tonnes.In March, IRIB quoted deputy roads and urban development minister Ahmad Sadeqi as saying that Iran will double the length of its national railway to 20,000 kilometres in the near future.

Currently, some 10,000 kilometres of railways are in operation across the country. He also said that over 3500 kilometres of highways are being built.

The earnings will be spent to expand railways, freeways, highways and main roads across the country, IRNA quoted Sadeqi as saying.

Last year, 54 railway, freeway and highway projects were implemented at a cost of 30 trillion rials (about US$2.4 billion) using revenues earned through selling bonds.

Sadeqi pointed out to financing 50% of projects through selling bonds and added that 23 trillion rials (about US$1.8 billion) is needed annually to implement road transportation expansion projects in the country.