Progress: Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2, under construction

Photo progress report for construction of Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2, since last observed here at UOI on 02OCT14.

Above: Massive EPB Shield (NHI Technology) type TBM in use. Reportedly of the 14.5 km long section to be bored, 350 meters are left to be drilled.

Behind section of the EPB Shield (NHI Technology) type TBM, in use at the Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2 subterranean construction site.

Tunnel section with prefab wall sections in place

Stacked prefab wall sections, staged for placement

German-made Schöma tunnel work train, Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2

Outside view of tunnel outlet, Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2

Section before what is believed to Shariati station, Mashhad Urban Railway Line 2

Structure taking shape for what is believed to be Shariati station

Iranian workmen tending rebar grid section for construction of facade, believed to be Shariati station

Map of envisioned Mashhad Urban Railway (Line 2 in blue)

Photos: Mohammad Zaernia at news.mashhad.ir

Inauguration of Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway link

Inauguration ceremony for the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran (KTI) railway line has taken place in Etrek, Turkmenistan on 03DEC124; attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov.

The 935-kilometer Uzen-Bereket-Gorgan line is now the shortest railway connecting the three nations, making for faster transit times. The line is 1520 mm gauge as far as Etrek, with the Iranian section of the route being standard gauge. In Iran, the railway enables linkage to the national network, making its way to the ports of the Persian Gulf.

KTI railway line is initially forecast to carry five million tons of freight per year, with 10-12 million tons per year expected in the longer-term.

Photos from KTI railway line inauguration ceremony:

Siemens EuroRunner 24PC diesel-electric locomotive operated by Islamic Republic of Iran Railways

CSR Ziyang Locomotive operated by Turkmenistan Railways

GE Evolution TE33A locomotive built by Kazakhstan's LKZ factory, operated by Turkmenistan Railways

Inauguration ceremony attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov. Note KTI line display projected overhead.

On hand at KTI inauguration cermenony: Turkmen musicians performing traditional instruments

On hand at KTI inauguration ceremony: Turkmen women in traditional costume

On hand at KTI inauguration ceremony: Turkmen procession of Bactrian camels

To attend KTI railway line inauguration, President Rouhani flew to Gorgan Airport (GBT / OING) on 02DEC14 aboard IRIG Airbus A321-231, reg. EP-AGB (cn 1202).

Photos: Moein Motlagh at Fars News Agency and Mahmood Hosseini at Tasnim News Agency

Iran Khodro Metro Station, Tehran Metro Line 5

Very recent photos of Iran Khodro Metro Station, along Tehran Metro Line 5 (regional rail). Station is located north of Tehran-Karaj Freeway and near Iran Khodro's automotive factory, between Chitgar Metro Station and Vardavard Metro Station.

Tehran-Karaj Line 5 TM3 locomotive appears to be later model SS8 with 3200 KW and 140 km/h from Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Works, pulling what appears to be CNTIC/CTC double-decker railcars of similar type seen assembled at Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Company plant in Tehran.

Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Co. plant, in Tehran

New edition photos taken at Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Company plant in Tehran. Above likely Shanghai Electric Group Company (SEGC) coaches assembled at plant to be fitted with bogies.

Inside view looking out and into SEGC type coaches, being assembled

Iranian manufacturing plant worker assembling SEGC type coach

What appear to be CNTIC/CTC double-decker railcars

Guangzhou Zhonghe Railway Vehicles Equipment air units to be fitted on assembled coaches at Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Company plant

Detail of TWMC plant workers outfitted in assembly apparel, fitting passenger grab rail

Detail of TWMC plant worker inside CNTIC/CTC coach during assembly

Older TWMC plant worker inside SEGC coach during assembly

Interior detail of coach during assembly at Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Company plant

External view of SEGC and CNTIC/CTC coaches being assembled at Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Company plant

Front facade of Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Co. plant in Tehran

Photos: TINN.IR and FARS News Agency

Shahrood railway bridge, under construction

Shahrood Bridge being erected along the Qazvin-Rasht-Anzali railway, under construction

Shahrood Bridge will have a completed length of 595 meters

Shoring system in place to support formwork for concrete arch construction

Iranian construction laborers atop scaffolding, installing formwork

Zoom out view of formwork set in place

Bridge concrete formwork being erected

Volvo NL12 based concrete mixer and water tanker trucks, with KATO NK-200 mobile crane

Another KATO mobile crane hoisting bridge beams into place

Large telescopic mobile cranes hoisting prefab sections into place

Two Iranian-built HEPCO HC100C rollers trailing unidentified roller

A pair of track loaders, possibly Caterpillar, work the site

Bridge deck area being prepared

Proud members of the Sedad construction management team

Illuminated evening construction efforts

Photos: Sedad Company on Facebook

New pics: Ardebil-Mianeh Rail Project, under construction

Concrete bridge piers being erected for the 175 kilometer Ardebil-Mianeh Railroad

Mats of rebar beside Iranian construction worker and wheel loader

Tadano TR-300 series 30t crane hoisting construction materials

Piers for one of ten large and small bridges being erected for the railway

Possibly bridge wingwalls being erected from reinforced concrete

Entrances serving the 24 km of tunnels provided for the railway

Tunnel concrete sidings construction

Opposing tunnel entrances

Photos: Fars News Agency