Deputy Managing Director of Iranian Railway Company Ebrahim Mohammadi reported on a new record in monthly average ton-kilometer by Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (abbreviated as RAI) saying “the average figure for commercial freight ton-kilometer (ton-km) has increased by seven percent as compared to the previous year. The average weight carried in the previous Iranian month (July 23-August 22) reached the unprecedented figure of 84 million ton-km per day setting a new record in the sector.”
Referring to the 15% increase in tonnage since the beginning of the current year, Mohammadi said the performance over July 23-August22 marked the best ever record for Iran’s Railways adding “all necessary measures have been taken in line with reaching the objectives defined by RAI.”
Deputy head of Iran Railways went on to stress that freight transit has grown by 57% since the beginning of the ongoing Iranian calendar year as 523 thousand tons of commodities have been carried through rail as compared to the last year figure which stood at 332,000 tons.
The official reiterated that the commodity which contributed most to the rise in rail transits was sulfur which has been carried from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Turkmenistan in particular, to the Persian Gulf.
He highlighted that two influential factors in boosting performance of Iran’s Railways in volume and size have been minerals and wheat, respectively. Carrying of the latter experienced a 162% rise as compared to a year ago.
It is worthwhile to note that the Sixth Development Plan has stipulated that share of Iran's rail industry in transportation needs to reach 30% for freight and 20% for passengers.
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