Iran’s rail transport system is not able to meet domestic demand, says Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi. “Out of the 800 locomotives in the railroad system, already not enough to meet transportation demands, 200 of them need to be renovated,” ISNA quoted Akhoundi as saying. According to the minister, each locomotive is functional and usable for 18 to 20 years and after that, it needs to be repaired, which would increase its lifespan for another 18 years. He noted that restoring a locomotive costs 60% less than purchasing a new one. “Fortunately, Iranian engineers are capable of completely restoring worn-out locomotives, effectively making them brand new,” Akhoundi said, adding that the rail transport system requires 900 more locomotives to meet transportation demands. He pointed to rail transportation as an eco-friendly, energy-efficient and quick transportation means and said “in order to protect the environment, we simply have no choice but to develop this system.”
