Iran inaugurates railway linking Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf

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…

Development of INSTC proceeds with Rasht – Astara and Azeri terminal

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is taking another step forward in its development. Russia and Iran are moving forward with the realisation of the Rasht – Astara railway and Azerbaijan has laid the foundations for freight transportation with a new cargo terminal. The conclusion of an agreement between Russia and Iran on the Rasht…

Russia and Iran finalising Rasht-Astara agreement

Russia and Iran are reportedly finalising an agreement for the Rasht-Astara railway. The line in northern Iran is a crucial missing piece for the western branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). According to the agreement, Russia will bear the brunt of the costs. A meeting between the Iranian ambassador in Russia and a…

Rail freight volumes between Iran and Azerbaijan grow by 28%

Rail freight volumes between Iran and Azerbaijan have grown by 28 per cent over an 11-month period. Between March 2023 and February 2024, approximately 645,000 tonnes of goods were transported via rail between the two countries. The director of Iran’s North Railway Administration stated that rail freight volumes between Iran and Azerbaijan grew by 28 […]

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

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 […]