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