Pakistan Railway Projects.

[ghazi52]

Turkey-Iran-Pakistan cargo train restarts after 10-year halt

ITI can complete journey between the 3 countries in about 14 days, much faster and less costly than alternate route


Anadolu Agency
December 21, 2021

The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) cargo train was started in 2009 but suspended in 2011. PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY

KARACHI: Following a 10-year hiatus, a freight train service between Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan was re-launched on Tuesday in a major boost for trade among the three countries and within the region.

The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) cargo train was started in 2009 but suspended in 2011 due to several delays in Pakistan.

It can complete the journey between the three countries in about 14 days, much faster and less costly than the alternate sea route.

The train departed from Pakistan’s capital for Europe’s largest city with dozens of containers.
It will cover 1,990 kilometers (1,235 miles) inside Pakistan, before crossing through the Taftan border for a 2,603-kilometer (1,620 miles) stretch in Iran.

The train will travel some 1,850 kilometres (1,150 miles) in Turkey, passing through the capital Ankara before reaching its final stop in Istanbul.

Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran are founders of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), a 10-member regional cooperation bloc that was established in 1964 as the Regional Cooperation for Development and renamed ECO in 1985.

The decision to resume the ITI cargo train service was taken at a ministerial meeting of ECO member states in 2020.

At Tuesday’s ceremony in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi hailed the “historic” development as a step that will open new avenues for trade and business in the region and beyond.

He said an ITI passenger train could also be launched in the future to further enhance regional connectivity and economic integration.

Mustafa Yurdakul, Turkey’s ambassador to Pakistan, said the resumption of the cargo train service is an important move part of the ECO framework and vision.

“This project has been on the agenda for a long time. It is a step that will improve bilateral cooperation and bolster economic and commercial exchanges between our countries,” he said, emphasising that the rail link should be extended further to other parts of Europe.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan-Iran-Turkey cargo train inaugurated in Islamabad,
It will open new avenues of trade and business in the region & beyond ‼
Train will complete journey in 4 days, covering 1235 miles in Pakistan, 1620 miles in Iran, 1150 miles in Turkey, to reach its destination Istanbul ..

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan-Iran-Turkiye cargo train reaches Ankara, restarting route after 10 years

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/haber
Anadolu
8:22 PM | January 05, 2022


A ceremony was held at the Turkish capital on Wednesday to mark the arrival of the first Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) train carrying goods from Pakistan to Turkiye, via Iran after the resumption of its operations.

The ITI cargo train started its journey from Islamabad on Dec. 21, 2021, and arrived in Ankara in around 13 days. Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoglu, Member of Pakistan National Assembly Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, and Iranian Ambassador to Turkiye Mohammad Farazmand attended the ceremony.

Departing from the Margalla station in Islamabad, the train took a route of 5,981 kilometers (3,666 miles) in 12 days and 21 hours. The cargo train aims to boost trade between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkiye. It comprises eight loaded wagons, 20 feet each with a capacity of 22 tons.

Karaismailoglu in his speech said the new railway will offer new options to the industrialists and businesspeople on the Pakistan-Iran-Turkiye route.

"It will save time and cost compared to sea transportation between Pakistan and Turkiye, which takes 35 days, and will lead to the development of trade between the two countries," he said.

"Thus, with the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train, a new railway corridor will be provided to our exporters in the south of Asia -- having the highest population density globally -- reaching Pakistan, neighboring India, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. In this way, our country will be one step closer to its goals of becoming a bridge and logistics base between Asia and Europe," Karaismailoglu added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Qureshi highlighted that the ITI train would play an important role in enhancing regional connectivity and promotion of economic and commercial activities in the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) region. Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye established the Regional Cooperation for Development organization in 1964 and renamed it ECO in 1985.

Qureshi added that the train would offer Pakistan an opportunity to further increase its exports and strengthen its connectivity with international markets, including in Europe.

"The current government in Pakistan believes in regional connectivity and we feel that to play a role at the national stage we need to be economically reliable. In order to do that, we need to not only have peace in our region but also increase the trade within our neighborhood and this ITI project will become a friendship project.

"We get access to the European markets and Turkey gets access to the central Asian states so it is a mutually beneficial arrangement and I hope it will be sustainable and we can grow from it further," Qureshi told Anadolu Agency in an interview.

Ambassador Farazmand in his speech said the ITI railway project was first launched in 2009 under the economic cooperation organization but remained suspended due to technical issues and restarted after 10 years.

He emphasized that the three countries also plan to launch a passenger train to the same route in the near future.

The first train from Islamabad to Istanbul was inaugurated on Aug. 14, 2009. Since then, eight trains have been dispatched from Pakistan to Turkiye. Turkiye has also dispatched six trains to Pakistan, but the train service was discontinued due to floods in Pakistan in 2009.

 

[FuturePAF]

Pakistan-Iran-Turkiye cargo train reaches Ankara, restarting route after 10 years

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/haber
Anadolu
8:22 PM | January 05, 2022


A ceremony was held at the Turkish capital on Wednesday to mark the arrival of the first Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) train carrying goods from Pakistan to Turkiye, via Iran after the resumption of its operations.

The ITI cargo train started its journey from Islamabad on Dec. 21, 2021, and arrived in Ankara in around 13 days. Turkey's Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoglu, Member of Pakistan National Assembly Makhdoom Zain Hussain Qureshi, and Iranian Ambassador to Turkiye Mohammad Farazmand attended the ceremony.

Departing from the Margalla station in Islamabad, the train took a route of 5,981 kilometers (3,666 miles) in 12 days and 21 hours. The cargo train aims to boost trade between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkiye. It comprises eight loaded wagons, 20 feet each with a capacity of 22 tons.

Karaismailoglu in his speech said the new railway will offer new options to the industrialists and businesspeople on the Pakistan-Iran-Turkiye route.

"It will save time and cost compared to sea transportation between Pakistan and Turkiye, which takes 35 days, and will lead to the development of trade between the two countries," he said.

"Thus, with the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train, a new railway corridor will be provided to our exporters in the south of Asia -- having the highest population density globally -- reaching Pakistan, neighboring India, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. In this way, our country will be one step closer to its goals of becoming a bridge and logistics base between Asia and Europe," Karaismailoglu added.

Speaking at the ceremony, Qureshi highlighted that the ITI train would play an important role in enhancing regional connectivity and promotion of economic and commercial activities in the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) region. Iran, Pakistan, and Turkiye established the Regional Cooperation for Development organization in 1964 and renamed it ECO in 1985.

Qureshi added that the train would offer Pakistan an opportunity to further increase its exports and strengthen its connectivity with international markets, including in Europe.

"The current government in Pakistan believes in regional connectivity and we feel that to play a role at the national stage we need to be economically reliable. In order to do that, we need to not only have peace in our region but also increase the trade within our neighborhood and this ITI project will become a friendship project.

"We get access to the European markets and Turkey gets access to the central Asian states so it is a mutually beneficial arrangement and I hope it will be sustainable and we can grow from it further," Qureshi told Anadolu Agency in an interview.

Ambassador Farazmand in his speech said the ITI railway project was first launched in 2009 under the economic cooperation organization but remained suspended due to technical issues and restarted after 10 years.

He emphasized that the three countries also plan to launch a passenger train to the same route in the near future.

The first train from Islamabad to Istanbul was inaugurated on Aug. 14, 2009. Since then, eight trains have been dispatched from Pakistan to Turkiye. Turkiye has also dispatched six trains to Pakistan, but the train service was discontinued due to floods in Pakistan in 2009.

In light of this project, and hopefully a railway through Gilgit Baltistan to China, should Pakistan switch to the standard gauge? Now, before Mainline 1’s reconstruction has begun, is a chance for Pakistan to better link Europe and Asia through a common rail gauge.

There would not need to be time consuming and costly change of gauge transfer of goods, tourists train could literally start in Beijing and go to London on the same train, so could cargo trains.

Secondly, by switch to the gauge used by at least 60% of the world, Pakistan could buy from any number of companies without having those companies having to adapt their designs to the current colonial era train gauge.

Standard gauge is narrower then the current gauge and could allow for faster speeds while at the same time cutting costs because they would require smaller (narrower) tunnels and narrower viaducts and bridges in key places.

The older track could be repurposed in many parts of the country for commuter trains and existing train sets could be run on current tracks, while the new tracks could take on the national cargo and higher speed passenger rail duties.

Just a thought

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan Railways launches Pakistan’s first ever ‘Reefer Freight Train’


by The Frontier Post

Karachi: As a major breakthrough in national logistics & cargo infrastructure, Pakistan Railways successfully launches country’s first ever Reefer Freight Train aiming to provide more economical and environment friendly freight solutions.

According to details, Marine Group of Companies in collaboration with Pakistan Railways achieved the milestone by operating Pakistan’s first ever containerized refrigerated train in Dec 2021 which departed from dry port of Marine International Container Terminal (MICT) Prem Nagar, Lahore and arrived at Wazir Mansion Karachi.

This intermodal cold chain solution enabled by ‘Pakistan Railways Freight Transportation Company (PRFTC) who facilitates the rail infrastructure operated by ‘Pakistan Intermodal Limited’ (PIL) and CMA CGM Pakistan providing commercial support for this new cold chain corridor.

From the past 05 years Pakistan Intermodal Ltd is playing a pivotal role in operating containerized freight trains in Pakistan and realizing the potential of Reefer containers, operated Pakistan’s first ever reefer block train carrying 24 Units – 40 feet reefers of CMA CGM Pakistan from MICT – Dry port at Prem Nagar – Lahore to Wazir Mansion Karachi and transported the Reefer boxed through PakGo trucking short haul services to Karachi Port completing the journey successfully.

The new operational phase begins with one train a week with plans for this service to operate twelve trains in a month. Freight trains can minimize the delivery time and reduce emissions to the atmosphere of greenhouse gasses. On average, railroads are three to four times more fuel efficient than trucks.

That means moving freight by rail instead of truck lowers greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75%, on average.

As more and more road-based reefer cargo finds its way to more economically and environmentally viable options. Pakistan Intermodal Limited (PIL) reefer block train system can generate billions of rupees annually in revenue for Pakistan Railways if the containerized freight trains are operated on schedule.

 

[ghazi52]

The huge and powerful dark green locomotive attached to a long line of big and small freight containers awaited the inauguration ceremony to be off on its way at the Hutchison Ports Pakistan, also known as the South Asia Pakistan Terminal, on Monday.

Then as soon as the ribbon was cut, it honked loudly while making the slouching guests sit up straight in their chairs as it chugged away on its new ballastless tracks. Expected to take away the traffic congestion caused by container trucks on roads and highways here, this freight train will reach its destination, Lahore, in up to four days.

The freight train service also coincides with the commissioning of a 3.7km, high-tech train track laid at the Hutchison Ports Pakistan connecting the facility to the rest of the country in a seamless manner through Pakistan Railway’s extensive network spread throughout the country.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Falconless]

Is the ML-1 Project dead?

 

[Maula Jatt]

Is the ML-1 Project dead?

Nah
But it should be dead, white elephant

 

[ghazi52]

Attock Kurd.

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan government is set to build a dedicated double-track corridor from Karachi Port to a new rail-to-logistics terminal in Pipri Marshalling Yard to tackle port congestion.

According to sources, around 10,000 containers were parked at Karachi Port, which was a cause of severe congestion.

The matter was referred to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) but no response came.

Furthermore, the matter of lack of storage space at the West Wharf was still pending resolution.
The Ministry of Railways, in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Transport and Logistics, sought its support for executing the plan of building a double-track corridor.

It was pointed out that a rail logistics study, carried out with the assistance of World Bank, had recommended the development of a dedicated double-track corridor from Karachi Port to a new rail-to-logistics terminal in Pipri Marshalling Yard.

 

[Flight of falcon]

Nah
But it should be dead, white elephant

Care to spread your knowledge ?

 

[ghazi52]

This Study therefore takes a holistic approach to the problem. It will result in solution for better transport system management by capitalizing on dysfunctional facilities and rehabilitating the accessibility requirements of Cargo traffic emanating from the Port by using a Multi Modal approach to solve the ills of existing and potential traffic intensity problems and convert into an efficient solution by reducing the traffic demand on existing road space.

The proposal centers around developing a Shuttle Train System to transfer KPT generated cargo including Containers to Pipri Marshalling Yard located east of KPT is about 45 Kms by rail and 48 Kms by road along N-5 highway for further processing of cargo related handling procedures. The Pipri Marshalling yard is spread over around 2000 Acres (810 Hectares) is grossly underutilized with a complex of Rail lines, hump and switching facilities to allow formation of trains for dispatch onwards to up Country.

The project proposes to undertake a condition survey of the Network infrastructure within and around the periphery of KPT and develop a rehabilitation plan to bring about a system of optimal utilization of the Rail Complex with its related components. The connectivity to all shore side facilities of the Berths including the SAPT Stage-I initial and proposed extension plans for the following development and commissioning of planned modules of the multi stages of DWCT as per Master Plan. This plan envisages construction of 11 additional berths ultimately to consist of 5 kms of Quay length. The DWCT projected demand for Cargo will have to be taken into consideration. Implementation of the 4 berths module connectivity with surrounding road network and the circulation of Truck Traffic to gain access from east and western network are already being implemented by KPT.

On the demand side the KPT has forecasted massive future cargo tonnage. Indeed, this has led to consideration for Cross Harbour Bridge (KCH) for which feasibility studies were undertaken and updated. Considering the heavy cost of KHC, the KPT has considered the feasibility of an expressway to be built bypassing all existing traffic bottlenecks and directly facilitating the port related traffic to Northern bypass for ultimate access to M-9 presently being upgraded to Motorway standard. This feasibility study proposes to utilize the existing rail infrastructure to be improved and move port related traffic directly to Pipri Marshalling yard. The trucking industry seeking their share of Cargo loading will take place at the Marshalling yard thus obviating their need to be at KPT to collect the cargo. Similarly, the incoming cargo for loading upto vessels for export could be delivered by the Shuttle Trains from Pipri Marshalling Yard to KPT for their onward loading on vessels.

The need assessment will therefore require a number of surveys both classified counts, OD Surveys, opinion surveys, willingness to pay existing storage capacity surveys including charges and Rail Yards within the port area. Similarly, Railway System Connectivity and condition surveys will be undertaken. There will also be surveys with respect to Vehicular Traffic specifically those that may conflict with the rail alignment.

A cost modal will be developed to allow for testing of various Scenario’s designed to study the cost implications, for example, the TPX yard of Karachi Port Trust a facility spread over 344 Hectare is already connected with the Port Rail Line. If this is included as part of the route to Pipri yard, its terminal costs may have cost implications. Similarly, the yard owned by Pakistan Railways and connected to KPT may also be considered for intermediate cargo handling could have cost implications.

 

[ghazi52]

New Bahawalpur Railway Station...

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