Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran sign agreement on North-South transport corridor

Officials of Azerbaijani, Russian and Iranian railway administrations
signed three documents on cooperation, within the framework of the
session on the North-South transport corridor and railroad
development, IRINN reports.

One of the documents is trilateral. The two other were signed by
Azerbaijan and Iran, and Iran and Russia.

The trilateral deal speeds up realization of the southern transport
corridor. The agreement between Iran and Russia involves cooperation
in railway construction and technical support, it also concerns the
electrification of the Tehran-Bandar Abbas railway. The deal between
Iran and Azerbaijan involves cooperation in railway projects.

Iranian railway chief Abdulali Sahib Muhammedi said after the ceremony
that the sides will work together in constructing the
Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway. He noted that the North-South corridor is
one of the most significant transport projects.

Muhammedi said that freighting on the North-South route is realizaed
via sea. The process takes 45 days. Completion of the railway
construction will reduce time needed to 25 days. One of the corridor's
benefits is speeding up of the process of developing relations with
European countries and reduction of freighting costs by 30%.

The Qazvin - Rasht-Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan) is part of the
North-South corridor.

Construction in Azerbaijan includes 8.5 km of railway to Astara
station, a station for wheel pair switch, border and customs
infrastructure. A railway bridge is needed. Realization of the project
is carried out on parity basis with Iran.