The first freight train connecting Istanbul and Islamabad via Tehran recently arrived in Ankara on Monday, after a 10-year hiatus, via Lahore, Taftan, and Zahedan, completing the 17-day voyage in 13 days. However, a second train to Turkey is already on its way.
“The first train, which left Islamabad on December 21 carrying cargo (mostly pink salt), arrived in Ankara (Turkey) on Monday evening. The commodities loaded onto the train were moved to other bogies (trans-shipment) compatible with the Iranian and Turkish rail/gauge systems before arriving at their destination,” Pakistan Railways Director (Operations) Imtiaz Ahmad said.
He added, “The train was made up of eight carriages carrying 150 tonnes of pink salt.”
According to Imtiaz Ahmad, the second train, which left Azakhel dry port on December 28, carried 525 tonnes of soapstone. He further said that the train has entered Iran and will shortly be in Zahedan, where the trans-shipment operation will be finished.
In response to a question, Mr Ahmad, who is also the focal point for the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) line, stated that the first and second trains earned Pakistan Railways Rs800,000 and Rs2.2 million, respectively.
