Iran says Quetta-Taftan railway line should be given priority in CPEC

Director General (DG) South East Railway Company of Iran, Majid Arjooni on Friday said that Quetta-Taftan railway line should be given priority in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“Quetta-Taftan railway line is an important section in Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Container Train Corridor and it must be given extra attention by Pakistan,” Arjooni said while talking to Parveen Agha, Secertary Ministry of Railways in Islamabad.

The Iranian delegation also said that, “All technical and mechanical issues of this section must be resolved as soon as possible.”

It said, “Iran has also reduced the transshipment cost for ITI Container Train at Zahidan station (Iran). The proposed reduced cost of loaded container makes up to 30 Euros and 10 Euros for empty container.”

The delegation highlighted the issue of container train's doors which are welded instead of sealed. The Secretary Railways acceded to the request of Iran to make doors of the container train sealed.

Parveen Agha said, “Quetta-Zahidan section is still operational, though barely. It is considered among the great Railways of the world because of its desert scenery which is unique for this part of Pakistan, a place where time stands still.”

“This can also be judged from the fact there are only 14 Railway Stations in the last 553 km section of the track. The total length of track from Quetta to Zahidan is 732 km with the last 100 km section being inside Iran,”