{"id":313046,"date":"2025-11-07T20:47:58","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T10:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=67223"},"modified":"2025-11-07T20:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T10:47:58","slug":"instc-gets-new-and-better-services-and-is-on-course-for-more-capacity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=313046","title":{"rendered":"INSTC gets new and better services and is on course for more capacity"},"content":{"rendered":"

A subsidiary of Russian Railways (RZD) has launched a new rail freight service to India along the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). At the same time, Iran is expecting to complete a key railway on the corridor.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Russian grain products are making their way to India on an expanded container service along the INSTC – an improvement of RZD\u2019s service offering. The train with 62 twenty-foot containers, which is double the number of earlier operations, will transit Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran. From there, it will make its way to India via sea. It is expected to shorten the transit time by 14%, from 35 to 30 days.<\/p>\n

The Iranian ports, including Bandar Abbas and Chabahar, are key transportation nodes for the INSTC. Iran wants to accommodate freight flows going through them, and is therefore building a railway from the Chabahar port to the city of Zahedan. Once completed, the railway will link the port to the greater rail network in the country, helping to boost capacity on the INSTC. Completion is scheduled within six months, according to Azerbaijani publication Trend.<\/p>\n

Armenia<\/h2>\n

On (a part of) the other side of the INSTC, the western branch, Russian grain is now being delivered to Armenia while transiting Azerbaijan. That was not possible previously due to the hostile relationship between the two countries. A first batch has already been delivered, and 132 more wagons are planned before the end of January. Shipments of other freight types will be explored, says South Caucasus Railways, Armenia\u2019s railway operator.<\/p>\n