During a formal ceremony which was held at the Aprin Railway Station near Tehran, the capital city of Iran, on 21 July 2024, the container block train of Iran-China resumed its operation from Iran (Qom City) to China (Yiwu City) after these trains between the two countries suspended their service due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This solemn ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Board and President of Railway of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI), members of the diplomatic corps of Kazakhstan, China and Turkmenistan embassies in IRI, officials form Foreign Ministry and from Customs Administration of Iran, as well as representatives from RAI and news agencies.

The train from Iran to China carried 50 FEU containers loaded with the Iranian products. The resumed regular container block train service is believed to facilitate the trade between Iran and China and reduce the delivery time of goods between the two countries.

The resumption of this container block train service has become possible after the agreement was reached between the administrations of the Railways of China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in April 2024 in Beijing, in which the four railways agreed on the tariff rates, as well as the transit time of 15 days for the transport of containers from the Altynkol station (Kazakhstan border with China) up to Tehran.

According to the agreement, the travel time of this container block train on the territory of China up to Khorgos border station with Kazakhstan is to be 5 days, in Kazakhstan up to the border with Turkmenistan – 5-6 days, in Turkmenistan up to border with Iran – 2 days, and from Incheh Buroun border station up to Tehran – 2 days.

In his inaugural speech at the opening ceremony, Seyed Miad Salehi, Vice-Minister for Roads and Urban Development – Chairman of the Board and President of Railway of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI) said that the resumed train service Iran – China and vice versa on the southern route of the Silk Road corridor has been on the agenda of the railways of Iran and China for the past time, and the regular round railway transportation in block trains between Iran and China will create an alternative shipping route from China to Europe. Seyed Miad Salehi also added that what was currently happening would be the source of many changes for facilitating trade between Iran and China as well as for the development of international transport between Europe and Asia.

Appreciating the close and positive cooperation between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan as regards the revitalization of this railway route, President of RAI mentioned some successful experiences of export, import and transit during the activities of the 13^th Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2021-2024) and stated that the countries of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have achieved good results in cooperation on the North-South Corridor, as well as in transporting goods from Russia to India through Iran. The major product transported via this route was potash fertilizer, which was dispatched from Russia to the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran, covering a distance of 4800 km within 18-19 days as a whole as compared to 52-53 days via the old sea route to India.

HE Mr. Ontalap Onalbayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Iran, pointed out that Kazakhstan is neighboring Iran through Caspian Sea. At present the country is undertaking infrastructure projects in Anzali, Amir Abad and ports in the Caspian Sea. Ontalap Onalbayev wished the newly relaunched railway route which has been a symbol of good relations and long-lasted friendship between the countries have a promising future for the states and governments of the region and the relationship and cooperation of these friendly countries develop and strengthen in the future.

HE Ms. Fu Lihua, Charge Daffaires of the Chinese Embassy in IRI, said that cooperation between Iran and China has made significant progress in the past years. She stated that by launching this train, the commercial, industrial and cultural cooperation between China and Iran will gain new opportunities within the framework of “One Belt – One Road” initiative.

It’s worth mentioning that the train from China to Iran resumed its operation from the city of Xian, the capital of Shaanxi Province, in north-west China, to the city of Jolfa in north-west Iran on 11 July 2024. This train was composed of 45 FEU containers loaded with automobile spare parts for Iran. The two trains are to exchange the containers at the Inche Buroun railway station on the border between Turkmenistan and Iran.

Initially, the Iranian and Chinese railways have planned to organise regular round trip trains on a weekly basis and, if required, will reconsider the frequency in the near future depending on the market requirements and the demand from freight forwarders and cargo owners, bringing it even to an everyday basis.

This train route is planned to be extended to Türkiye and Europe through Iran in the next phase. Meanwhile, the parties to the agreement concluded in April 2024 have proposed to invite the Uzbek Railways to participate in the organisation of container block trains from China to Iran through the railway route China – Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan – Iran.