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Second of Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul freight train arrives in Turkey

The second of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul freight train, which was restarted in order to improve the economic relations between Turkey and Pakistan, arrived in Kocaeli-Kosekoy.

According to the information received by the AA correspondent from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure TCDD Tasimacilik AS, freight transportation has been restarted on the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul line in order to revive the economic and commercial activities in the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) region.

The first train, which completed a total of 5,981 kilometers in 12 days and 21 hours, was welcomed by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoglu, in Ankara on 3 January.

The second freight train was sent off from Azakhel Dry Port in Peshawar Region of Pakistan on 29 December 2021. The train in question, with a load of 525 tons of soapstone in 11 wagons, traveled a total of 6 thousand 437 kilometers and reached Kocaeli-Kosekoy.

The services of the freight train, which started to be operated for the first time in 2009 on the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul line, were suspended for technical reasons as of 2011.

With the resumption of rail freight transportation, the transportation between Turkey and Pakistan, which took 30-35 days by sea, decreased to 12-14 days, while time and transportation costs were significantly reduced.

EXPECTED TO STIMULATE TRADE ON THE ROUTE

With the route expected to stimulate the trade on the Turkey-Pakistan route and the surrounding countries, an important alternative to logistics in a wide hinterland from Iran to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and China is offered. It enables Pakistan and Afghanistan, in particular, to establish the fastest and shortest connection with international markets, including Europe.

Within the scope of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Freight Train Project, which was started to be re-operated on the Pakistan, Iran, Turkey route by the General Directorate of TCDD Tasimacilik Inc., studies are continuing to increase the variety of cargo, shorten the transportation times and carry mutual cargo, while studies are continuing for return flights from Turkey.

Effective use of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Line, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) Railway Line and the Middle Corridor, which is an important step for Turkey to become a key country of international rail corridors, is expected to contribute significantly to world trade.

On the other hand, within the scope of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), trains carrying foodstuffs from Turkey to Afghanistan started to be sent on October 14, 2021.

Trains carrying food products were sent to Afghanistan via both Iran-Turkmenistan and BTK Railway Line from different points such as Istanbul-Catalca, Kocaeli-Kosekoy, Mersin.

Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz

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