Signing of Trilateral Memorandum

A new regulation defining the procedures for movement, registration, and accounting of Iranian rail cars in the territories of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was signed with the participation of Zakeri, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Director General of Iranian Railways, S. Nurberdyev, Deputy Minister of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan, and Narzullaev, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Railways.

According to the Iranian Railways press service, this regulation represents an important step toward more efficient use of existing railway capacities between the three countries and increasing the volume of international rail transport.

In accordance with the regulation, the parties confirmed their readiness to carry out international transportation based on railway freight agreements and reached understanding on key issues. The memorandum includes procedures for the movement of various types of Iranian rail cars (covered, tank cars, grain carriers, and container platforms) through the territories of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Rules were also established for the operation of 1,520 mm gauge wagons and bogies, both inventory-owned and privately owned.

One important point in the document is the permission to operate Iranian wagons and bogies manufactured in CIS countries in the territories of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, subject to periodic maintenance and written consent from the parties. This creates new opportunities, especially for transporting packaged, bulk, and liquid cargo in tank cars.

The regulation also contains detailed provisions on cargo transportation in Iranian rail cars to various destinations in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as transit transportation through these countries with reloading onto local cars.

A separate part of the agreement stipulates the procedure for replacing bogies on Iranian cars from 1,435 mm gauge to 1,520 mm gauge at Sarakhs Station (Iran). According to the agreements reached, Iran will be responsible for providing the necessary bogies, while Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are exempted from charges for their use.

Additionally, the regulation governs the conditions for transporting special cargo, including oversized, dangerous, special, and bulk cargo, as well as car rejection issues, exchange procedures, and periodic maintenance in accordance with international and national standards of the participating countries to ensure safe and standard transportation.

Source: Press service of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways.
Translated to Russian by: Fatemeh Akbari - Foreign Trade Department