First Russian Freight Train Arrives in Iran via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
A Russian freight train has arrived at Iran’s Aprin dry port near Tehran after transiting through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, marking a significant milestone in Eurasian rail connectivity, Iranian state media reported.
According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, the train carried 62 forty-foot containers loaded with paper, cellulose, and other paper products. The cargo, destined for various regions across Iran and Iraq, crossed the Turkmenistan–Iran border at Incheh-Borun and reached Tehran after a 12-day journey, underscoring the growing importance of trans-Caspian rail routes.
Morteza Jafari, Deputy Director of Iranian Railways, said the arrival of the first Russian train highlights a “new phase of regional transit cooperation” and is expected to strengthen trade links between Russia and Iran while boosting rail integration with Central Asia.
Jafari added that Iran anticipates receiving one Russian container train every ten days, with plans to gradually increase frequency. He emphasized that expanding these connections aligns with Iran’s strategic goal of becoming a regional hub for exports, imports, and transit through closer coordination with neighboring and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.
The new corridor reflects a broader regional push to enhance rail connectivity across the Caspian region, providing an alternative to traditional maritime routes and facilitating overland trade between Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
In August, Turkmenistan and Iran agreed to build two additional railway lines at the Sarakhs border crossing to expand freight capacity. The project was announced following talks between Iranian Railways chief Jabbar Ali Zakeri and Turkmen Railways Minister Mammet Akmammedov on the sidelines of the UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.
Officials from both sides have underscored that strengthening rail infrastructure will enable faster and more reliable cargo transport across Central Asia, enhancing regional market integration and positioning Iran as a key link in Eurasia’s emerging north-south trade corridor.
