Relaunching the Container Block Trains from China to Iran and Iran to China
During a formal ceremony which was held in the Aprin Railway Station near Tehran, the capital city of Iran, on 21 July 2024, the container block train of Iran-China resumed its movement from Iran (Qom City) to China (Yiwu City) after the stopping of the running of these trains between the two countries since the outbreak of the Corona Virus. President of Iranian Railways (RAI), Deputy Ambassador of China in Tehran, Charge d'affaires of Turkmenistan embassy in Tehran, officials form Foreign Ministry of Iran, officials of customs of Iran, managers from Iranian Railways and the media attended in this ceremony. This train carries 50x40’ containers of materials from Iran to China. It is said that relaunching the train will increase the trade between Iran and China, the old civilization of the world, and will reduce the transport time of cargoes between the two countries.
The resumption of the movements of this container block train takes place after the agreement was made between the Railways of China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in April 2024 in Beijing in which the four railways agreed on the tariff as well as the transit time for the transport of containers from Altynkol (Kazakhstan border with China) up to Tehran.
The parties have agreed to keep the whole-rail route transportation time within 15 days to improve the quality of operation. According to this agreement, the travel time of this container block train inside China up to Khorgos border with Kazakhstan will be within 5 days, inside Kazakhstan up to Turkmenistan border 5-6 days, inside Turkmenistan up to border with Iran 2 days and from Incheh Buroun border up to Tehran it will take 2 days.
In his inaugural speech in this ceremony, Dr Seyed Miad Salehi, Deputy Minister for Roads and Urban Development of Iran and President of Iranian Railways (RAI) said that relaunching Iran-China and Vice versa trains on the southern route of Silk Road Corridor has been on the agenda of the railways of Iran and China and launching loaded round-trip block trains between Iran and China will consolidate the quick and safe trade gate from China to Europe. Dr salehi added that what is happening today will be the source of many changes for the development of trade between Iran and China as well as the development of international transport between Europe and Asia.
Referring to the good cooperation of the countries of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan on this operation, president of RAI mentioned some successful experiences of export, import and transit during the activity of the 13th Cabinet of Islamic Republic of Iran (2021-2024) and stated that the countries of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan had good cooperation on the North-South Corridor as well for transporting cargoes from Russia to India through Iran, in which the strategic product of Potash Fertilizer was transport from the origin of Russia up to Bandar Abbas port in Iran with the length of 4800 KM on a whole rail route and it took 18- 19 days in comparison with the old sea route of 52-53 sea route to India.
Deputy Ambassador of China in Tehran, Mrs Lihua Fu, said the cooperation of Iran and china has had good results in the past years. She stated that launching this train, while connecting Chain to Central Asia and West Asia, will be a channel for developing the cooperation between China and Iran and it will be an opportunity for commercial, industrial and cultural cooperation.
Deputy Ambassador of China hoped that they will witness in the near future the strengthening of the cooperation between the two countries in the framework of “One Belt One Road”.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Tehran, Mr Onthalap Onalbayev, pointed out that Kazakhstan is neighboring Iran through Caspian Sea and the country is following up the infrastructure projects in Anzali, Amir Abad and Caspian ports in Caspian Sea ports of Iran. Mr Ambassador wished that the new launched rail line which is the symbol of cooperation and old friendship between these countries to have a promising future for the states and governments of the region and the relations and cooperation of these friend countries to be developed and get stronger every day.
It should be mentioned that the train from China to Iran resumed also its journey from the city of Xian, the capital of Shaanxi Province, in northwest China, to the city of Jolfa in north-west of Iran on 11th July 2024, during a ceremony with the presence of Iran Ambassador in Beijing, leader of Xian Port and other local officials. This train is carrying 45x40’ containers containing imported automobile spare parts to Iran. The two trains are going to exchange the containers in the Inche Buroun rail border between Iran and Turkmenistan soon.
The railways of Iran and Chana are going to have a weekly loaded round trip trains first and considering the positive feedback of market to this train and considering the present increasing demand from shippers and cargo owners, they try to increase the number of these trains to daily trains between two countries in near future.
This train will be extended to wards Turkiye and Europe through Iran in the next phase. Meanwhile, the parties of the agreement made in April 2024 have suggested to invite Uzbekistan Railways to participate in the organization of container block trains from China to Iran through the whole rail route of China-KazakhstanUzbekistan- Turkmenistan and Iran as well.
For more information, you may contact Mr Ali Abdollahi from Iranian Railways
(ali.abdlhi@gmail.com, Tel: +98 21 55128132)