Iran says construction of Rasht-Astara railway to begin after Novruz holiday

Construction on the Rasht–Astara railway line is expected to begin in 2026, after the Novruz holiday. 

Jabbar Ali Zakeri, head of Iranian Railways, told reporters that the line is projected to handle 3 million tonnes of cargo in the short term and up to 15 million tonnes in the long term, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The line, spanning approximately 162 km through Gilan Province, will connect Rasht (a major hub on the Caspian coast) to Astara on the Azerbaijan border, facilitating seamless rail transit and reducing reliance on road transport.

This development marks a significant advancement for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal route linking Russia, Iran, and India via the Caucasus, aimed at cutting shipping times from Europe to South Asia by up to 40% compared to the Suez Canal.

By Khagan Isayev