Iran
Country Details
See Wikipedia
National Railway System
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (abbreviated as IRIR, or sometimes as RAI) (Persian: راهآهن جمهوری اسلامی ایران) is the national state-owned railway.
National Railway Operator
The Raja Passenger Train Company is an associate of IRIR.
Maps
Online Maps
Printed Maps
- World Rail Atlas - The Middle East and Caucasus by Neil Robinson
Timetable
- Printed: summary timetables are available in some editions of the European Rail Timetable.
Information is available at the Man in Seat 61.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure Authority
IRIR
Network Statement
None known
Gauge
- Standard.
- 1520 mm (Russian gauge): 94 km, connecting with Azerbaijan and Turkmenstan.
- 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in; Indian gauge): the formerly isolated 84 km section between Zahedan and the Pakistan border at Mirjawa, en route to Quetta (734 km). The 225 km standard gauge IRIR line from Kerman (in central Iran) to Bam was completed in 2002, and the 546 km from Bam to Zahedan in early 2009. There was an opening ceremony on 19 July 2009. There are freight transhipment facilities at Zahedan.
Electrification
25 kV 50 Hz AC.
Rule of the road
Thought to be right hand running but the majority of the system is single track.
Distances
No source known
Other Railways
None known
Tourist Lines
None known
Metro and light rail systems
Tabriz, Tehran/Karaj, Masshad, Isfahan, Shiraz
Recent and Future Changes
Recent Changes
The Tehran - Van (Turkey) train, discontinued in February 2020 owing to Covid, resumed on 9 March 2025. It will run twice a week - Wednesdays & Sundays from Tehran and Mondays & Thursdays from Van.
Future Changes
None known
Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services
None known.
Border Crossings
Azerbaijan - Iran
(Nakhichevan -) Julfa/Culfa ADDY - Jolfa IRIR (- Tabriz)
[D] This crossing links only to the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhichevan. A daily freight train has run between Iran and the northern border of the enclave. However, there is some doubt as to whether any trains are running as the Iranian Foreign Minister talked at a meeting on 18 February 2021 about reopening the line.
(Osmanli -) Astara ADDY - Astara IRIR (- Rasht - Qazvin)
[D] Freight only. This 10 km long dual gauge (1520/1435 mm) border crossing was officially commissioned on 25 December 2017 and opened to traffic on 29 March 2018. At present it is a dead end branch.
On 17 May 2023 a €1·6bn agreement (with €1·3bn financed by Russia) to construct the 162 km Rasht – Astara line was signed by the transport ministers of Iran and Russia. Astara ADDY will be equipped with bogie changing facilities and probably also an SUW 2000 gauge changer. The line was supposed to be operational by 2024 but the finance was agreed only in May 2024.
Iran - Pakistan
(Zahedan -) Mirjawa IRIR - Kohi-Taftan PR (- Quetta)
This isolated 84 km section of Indian gauge (1676 mm; 5 ft 6 in) railway between Zahedan and the Pakistan border was completed on 1 October 1922, the last part of the 734 km line from Quetta. The 225 km standard gauge IRIR line from Kerman (in central Iran) to Bam was completed in 2002, and the 546 km from Bam to Zahedan in early 2009. There was an opening ceremony on 19 July 2009. There are freight transhipment facilities at Zahedan.
Iran - Turkey
(Tabriz -) Razi IRIR - Kapiköy TCCD (- Van)
[D] IRIR works to Kapiköy. The weekly Ankara - Tehran service was withdrawn in July 2015 but reinstated in August 2019. A weekly Van - Tehran passenger service also used this border crossing. Both were withdrawn at the start of the pandemic. The twice weekly Tehran - Van train resumed on 9 March 2025 and that from Van on 10 March. Domestic journeys between Van and Kapiköy are not permitted. Note that travel to Iran is not recommended.
Freight trains run via Iran to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan. However, as at July 2024, there appeared to be little or no traffic to or from Iran. The Lake Van train ferry therefore sees very little use.
