{"id":319803,"date":"2025-11-20T19:08:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:08:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=67474"},"modified":"2025-11-20T19:08:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:08:49","slug":"muslim-union-railway-faster-and-cheaper-than-sea-routes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=319803","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Muslim Union Railway faster and cheaper than sea routes\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A reopening of the Muslim Union Railway, a newly introduced name for the Pakistan-Iran-T\u00fcrkiye line, is right around the corner. Talks between the countries are in the final stages. Karimi Ghahi, the head of Iranian Railways, believes it will be faster and more economical than sea routes.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>With the project nearing completion, the Muslim Union Railway should officially relaunch before the end of the year. It would connect Islamabad, Pakistan, to Istanbul in T\u00fcrkiye. The transit time is expected to be 10-12 days, faster than transporting goods by ship.<\/p>\n

“This railway line, which is over 6,500 kilometers long, plans to connect Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, to Zahedan via Tehran and the Razi border in [Iran\u2019s province of] West Azerbaijan to Istanbul. The last train service was in August 2022, but it was halted due to technical issues, delays at customs, and infrastructure damage caused by widespread flooding. Now, with a new agreement between the three countries, this line will be operational again by the end of December 2025\u201d, Karimi Ghahi told Turkish media.<\/p>\n

A geoeconomic move<\/h2>\n

\u201cThe revival of this route is not just a transportation project\u201d, Ghahi added. \u201cIt is also a geoeconomic move that could redefine Iran’s position on the Eurasian trade map.\u201d Iran hopes to position itself as a land bridge for energy and freight supply chains between Islamic countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the resumption of the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train service, hopes for expanding economic cooperation, increasing goods transit, and establishing new ties among regional countries have been revived more than ever. Iran is at the center of this route\u201d, Ghahi concluded.<\/p>\n