PM Advisor: Railway connection will support strategic projects, not a substitute

INA - BAGHDAD 

Advisor to the Prime Minister for Transport Affairs, Nasser Al-Assadi, detailed the gains of the railway connection project between Iraq and Iran. He confirmed that it would be allocated to transporting people and would reduce accidents and traffic congestion, indicating that it would support strategic projects and would not be a substitute for them.

“The railway connection project between Iraq and Iran is one of the major national, vital projects and its mission is to transport travelers to Iraq,” said Al-Asadi to the Iraqi News Agency - INA, pointing out that “the connection operations were thoroughly studied by previous governments, and the current government has implemented the project.”

He added, “There is a very large number of Iranian visitors who go to the holy shrines in Iraq annually, and their number is estimated between 3-4 million people. Only 700,000 visitors pass through the Shalamcheh crossing, and this large number puts pressure on the roads. Sometimes, it congestions and traffic accidents occur, so the railways are safer for visitors as it will solve traffic congestion problems and reduce accidents.”

"The railway connection project does not affect any other project in Iraq. It will be a support for the rest of the projects in the country, such as Al-Faw Port and Development Road projects, as it will not be a substitute for them," he included.

He asserted, "The railway connection with Iran is part of the Iraqi national railway network, and it is a fully studied project," adding, "The understanding and cooperation between the two countries led to the establishment of this vital project."