International North–South Transport Corridor

China and India launch new rail services to Uzbekistan, reshaping Asian logistical landscape

Nikos Papatolios
August 6, 2024
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Uzbekistan has been the focal point of recently launched international railway services. The landlocked country is now the destination of two new rail-bound logistical services,…

Putin shares rail plans that could see big projects intertwine

Nikos Papatolios
August 5, 2024
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“From the Baltic and Barents Seas to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean”. That’s how rail connectivity should work along the International North-South Transport…

Here’s all you need to know about the Eurasian transport corridors

Guest authors
July 26, 2024
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At RailFreight.com, we often write about the Eurasian transport corridors. These are important pieces of infrastructure for international trade flows. It may not always be…

China and Kazakhstan agree to invest in Aktau port container hub

Guest authors
July 4, 2024
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The Port of Aktau will gain a new container hub. China and Kazakhstan agreed to build the port expansion at an investment roundtable on 2…

Rasht – Astara: new initiatives announced but old issues persist

Marco Raimondi
June 25, 2024
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The construction of the Rasht-Astara railway, in northwestern Iran, is one of the key missing pieces of the International North-South Transport Corridor. Despite new initiatives…

Iran inaugurates railway linking Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf

Nikos Papatolios
June 19, 2024
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The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) sees another critical rail puzzle piece taking its place. The Qazvin-Rasht rail link will be inaugurated on Thursday, 20 June in the presence of Iranian, Russian and Azerbaijani delegates. This short (37 kilometres) but critical piece of infrastructure will provide seamless railway connections between Caspian Sea ports and the…

Is INSTC’s Rasht-Astara line on track for another setback?

Nikos Papatolios
February 12, 2024
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It is probably the most critical railway section of the International North-South Corridor (INSTC), and its construction has been planned for a few years, with several ups and downs along the way. The Rasht-Astara railway line is supposed to commence construction work in early 2024. Nevertheless, Russia and Iran, which are directly involved in the […]

‘Forget the IMEC, focus on the INSTC,’ says India

Nikos Papatolios
January 17, 2024
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Instability caused by the ongoing war in Gaza and Houthi attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea has put the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) on hold until further notice. India seems to be reassessing its position within international transport routes in this context. Attention is now turned towards an ‘old acquaintance’: the International North-South Transport […]