Trains will be launched fromn Tehran next week to help transport Iranian pilgrims heading to the Iraqi city of Karbala during Arbaeen commemorations, says the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways.
“Pilgrims will board trains in Tehran to travel to the Shalamcheh border. From there, they will travel 30 kilometers by bus to the Iraqi city of Basra and then take a train to Karbala,” Miad Salehi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
Salehi, who is also a deputy minister of roads and urban development, said that between Sept. 6 and 21, IRIR will double the number of train trips along Tehran-Kermanshah, Tehran-Khorramshahr and Tehran-Ahvaz routes to accommodate the pilgrims.
“During the same period, pilgrims will be taken from Khorramshahr to Shalamcheh border crossing free of charge,” he added.
Iraq hosts over two million Iranians every year for Arbaeen, a major Shia event marking the 40th day anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his 72 family members and companions.
Iran and Iraq have agreed to build a railroad connecting the two countries from Shalamcheh to Basra.
The project would connect Basra in southern Iraq to Shalamcheh in western Iran, which are 32 kilometers apart. The railroad would be strategically important for Iran, as it will link the country to the Mediterranean Sea via Iraq and Syria’s railroads.
According to Al-Monitor, this is not the first time Iraqi and Iranian officials have promised to build the railroad.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways first revealed details of a plan to connect Basra with Shalamcheh in 2018, funded by Iran's Mostazafan Foundation.
In May, former deputy minister of roads and urban development, Mahmoud Ghaffari, said an investment of up to €100 million is required to complete the project.
The Iraqi side failed to build the railroad from Shalamcheh to Basra due to economic problems and a shortage of funds.
The launch of the railroad will boost Iran's exports to Iraq and from this route to West Asian and North African countries.
In order to complete the Shalamcheh-Basra railroad, the 17-kilometer Khorramshahr-Shalamcheh railroad was completed in 2011 to connect Iranian railroads to the Iraqi city of Basra.
The project is aimed at facilitating the travel of Iranian pilgrims, especially during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, and travelers could use this rail link from Iran via Basra to Karbala and other holy cities of Iraq.
Iraqi passenger and freight trains are using the rail link of Basra to Karbala.
According to Al-Monitor, the railroad is part of Syria’s reconstruction deal, promoting religious tourism among Iran, Iraq and Syria.
