A new passenger rail service between Iran and Turkey will become operational on June 18, Turkish Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan said on Wednesday.
“There is a freight shipment between Iran and Turkey. However, there was no passenger transportation. We will start passenger rail transportation—that we had suspended for about three years—between Tabriz [northwest of Iran] and Van [eastern province of Turkey] on June 18,” Arslan said in eastern Kars Province.
The minister said the first train will leave from Tabriz on June 18 and from Van on June 19, Anadolu Agency reported.
Arslan added that the train will operate twice a week from Tabriz to Van, and vice versa.
“This is important for our country and for our region,” he said, explaining that rail connection promises to boost tourism in the region.
