Teheran, 11th July 2017

Scientific cooperation and staff training: these are the highlights of the agreements signed today in Teheran by FS Italiane and the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways.

“These agreements – said Renato Mazzoncini – are a step forward for FS in the Iranian high-speed project, precisely the Qom-Arak line. The contract, around 1.2 billion of euro worth, will be effective within 180 days, being the time required to figure out the guarantees and financing issue, financing that will be provided through export credit mechanism granted by SACE. Today has been signed also a trilateral agreement for the training of Iranian Railways experts in cooperation with the University of Science and Industry of Teheran. Italferr and Italcertifer have been cooperating with Iranian Railways and relationship is pretty good.”

The agreement signed today by Renato Mazzoncini – CEO of FS Italiane, follows the framework cooperation agreement signed in 2016 for the development of Iranian high-speed network for the lines Qom-Arak and Teheran-Hamedan.

Iran's railway infrastructure extends for about 10,000 kilometers, and it is envisaged an extension of the network up to 25,000 km in 2025 of which 7,500 kilometers already under construction.

Iranian rail traffic development plan envisages, for the period 2005-2025, an increase from 25 to 65 million passenger\year.