Thanks to the efforts of the employees of the RWT, Iranian export goods to Uzbekistan will henceforth be transported using Iranian wagons.
According to the Public Relations Office of the RWT, the dispatch of the first Iranian train consisting of 40 wagons to Bukhara Station in Uzbekistan marks a turning point in Iran’s regional transit operations. Carrying steel products, the train crossed the Sarakhs border and reached its destination through Turkmenistan. This achievement is regarded not only as a transportation milestone but also as a symbol of the success of the Fourteenth Government’s railway diplomacy.
Previously, rail cargo transportation from Iran to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan was carried out using the railway fleets of those countries. However, through the efforts of the employees of the RWT, it is now possible to transport cargo from Iran directly to final destinations in these countries using Iranian wagons. From now on, Iranian export goods to Uzbekistan will be transported by Iranian rail wagons.
According to MANA News Agency, until now these countries had not permitted Iranian trains to operate on their railway networks due to technical issues. However, following extensive negotiations and consultations, the operation of Iranian wagons in Uzbekistan has now become possible.
Naghi-Zadeh, Director General of Foreign Commerce at the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, explained that the main obstacle was related to technical and operational complexities. There is a difference in rail gauge between Iran’s railway network and those of CIS countries, requiring technical adaptations for Iranian wagons to enter CIS rail systems.
He added that this process has now been implemented with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, and negotiations are underway with Kazakhstan and Russia to allow Iranian trains to operate throughout all CIS countries. Technical assessments and tariff-related issues are currently being reviewed, and additional stages of opening these routes to Iranian trains are expected in the future.
Beyond the international significance of this achievement, one of its most important advantages is the reduction of wagon congestion and delays at the Sarakhs border. Previously, Iranian cargo had to wait at the border until foreign wagons became available to continue the journey. With this new arrangement, border storage delays are eliminated, as well as the cost of transferring cargo from Iranian wagons to Uzbek wagons. The transportation speed of export goods has also significantly increased.
Since Iranian wagons are now loaded at the point of origin and travel directly to Uzbekistan, cargo no longer remains idle at the border awaiting transshipment or transfer between wagons. Demurrage costs have therefore been eliminated, resulting in substantial reductions in transportation costs and transit time.
At times, Iranian cargo shipments previously had to wait up to one month for foreign railway wagons to become available. Fortunately, this issue has now been resolved. It should also be noted that the annual cargo transportation capacity along this route is approximately 6 million tons. With this new development, cargo reaches destinations much faster, and cargo owners have strongly welcomed the initiative because it reduces costs while minimizing damage during cargo handling operations.
The RWT, as the first and leading company in dispatching Iranian wagons to CIS destinations, implemented this initiative in line with the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways to expand regional rail transportation, accelerate cargo movement in the CIS region, and reduce costs for customers and traders. For the first time, the company dispatched 40 high-sided wagons carrying various cargoes to Uzbekistan.
The RWT is fully prepared to provide high-quality cargo transportation services to its customers.
