Iran and Tajikistan Plans to Railway Connection with Afghanistan

Iran and Tajikistan are planning to build a 392km railway line linking Afghanistan, China and Kyrgyzstan.

The route is expected boost trade ties, increase exports and decrease transit costs among the countries facilitating transport of cargo and passengers.

Iranian company Metra will carry out a feasibility study for the construction of a Tajik stretch of a rail link, which will connect Kashgar in China and Herat in Afghanistan.

Iranian Minister of Road and Urban Development Ali Nikzad told FARS news agency that Iran welcomes the proposal by the Tajik government to connect the Iranian rail network to the city of Kashgar in China, via Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
“It will increase trade exchange and export volume, reduce transit costs among these countries and facilitate the transport of cargo and passengers in the region,” Nikzad said.

The first stage of the proposed rail line will span 335.4km and cost $169.5m, while the second phase’s fee will be $96.4m.
The third part will involve construction of anti-avalanche structures along the rail line, which will cost $30m.
The most complex part of the project will be a 270km section that includes 16km of tunnels and 47 bridges, which requires $8m to $10m to build each kilometre of the line.

Following the feasibility study, experts from Iran and Tajikistan will supervise and implement the project.