Maiden Azerbaijan Train Arrives at Border

The new railroad connecting Iran and Azerbaijan was tested late Friday after a train set off on a maiden journey from the city of Astara in the neighboring country. The train travelled 8 kilometers to the border from where it entered the Iranian section of the route, which is not yet complete, IRNA reported. The railroad runs 2 kilometers from the border to an Iranian port city with the same name. Younes Ranjkesh, governor of the northeastern Iranian port, said on Friday Iran has started laying tracks for the Iranian section, adding that in the first phase, track-laying for 0.6 kilometers will be carried out. The Astara-Astara project includes a bridge on Astarachay River stretching along the border, which was built by Azerbaijan. The connection is part of a major global transit route called International North-South Transportation Corridor, which is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia.