All You Need To Know About Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Train
It has been decided that the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul(ITI) freight train will resume operations in 2021 in order to promote Pakistan’s trade with Iran
and Turkey.
Turkey’s transport minister has stated that all three countries have collectively agreed to resume regular operations soon. The main requirements for the ITI or ECO Container train have been fulfilled. This project’s trial was originally launched in 2009 under the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which is an Asian bloc consisting of ten members. The rail is accepted by the UN as an international corridor between Pakistan, Iran and Turkey.
The railway line is expected to reduce the transport track of the goods from Islamabad to Istanbul. The train takes 11.5 days to complete the journey between the two cities. Relatively it takes almost 45 days to transport goods from European countries to Pakistan through the sea route. The train’s capacity is for twenty forty feet containers.
The railway line from Istanbul to Islamabad through Tehran is a great hope for all three countries. It focuses to first boost economic relations between Pakistan, Iran and Turkey and then with the other ECO countries.
This project can also link to European rail networks through Turkey’s undersea Marmaray railway tunnel.
It has also been suggested by some countries to expand the project to Middle East markets. The ITI project’s main purpose is to ensure cargo and container transport, reduce the travel time between Asia and Europe and reduce the rail fares in contrast to rail routes.
