Russian minister announces 15-million-ton freight capacity for Rasht-Astara railway
Russian Transport Minister Roman Vladimirovich Starovit highlighted the significant capacity of the Rasht-Astara railway, stating that freight transport along this route will reach 15 million tons annually after project completion and necessary infrastructure development.
During a video conference on Thursday addressing the ceremony for the handover of acquired land for the Rasht-Astara railway project, Starovit emphasized its critical role in advancing international transport along the North-South Corridor. He referenced the 2025 agreement between the presidents of Iran and Russia to develop this corridor, noting that the 162-kilometer railway will feature eight stations, 56 aerial bridges, and 35 vehicular overpasses, ISNA reported.
The Russian minister described the Rasht-Astara railway as essential for combined or multimodal transport (the transportation of goods under a single contract, but performed with at least two different modes of transport), citing Russia’s 2024 freight volume of 20 million tons (9.5 million tons moved by sea) and a first-quarter 2025 figure of 3 million tons.
He stressed the railway’s potential to boost capacity, adding that “after project implementation and infrastructure upgrades, freight volume on this route will reach 15 million tons. All required infrastructure from southern Iranian ports to northern Russian ports is now in place.”
50% reduction in India-Finland transit time
Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Head of Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructure Company, Abbas Khatibi, highlighted the country’s strategic position along the North-South and East-West corridors.
He emphasized the North-South Corridor’s significance for India and Russia, noting its “50% reduction in transit time and 30% cost savings.”
Khatibi identified the Rasht-Astara railway as the sole missing link in the North-South Corridor, which currently takes 45 days to connect India to Finland. The 162-kilometer route will include 10 stations.