Iran and Turkey have exchanged the agreement document necessary to advance a new railway connection at the Cheshmeh Soraya border crossing, officials announced on August 24. The development was confirmed by Jabbar Ali Zakeri, CEO of Iran’s Railway Company, during a visit by senior domestic officials to the Khavaran-Tabriz-Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya railway project in West Azarbaijan Province.
The railway link aims to connect Iran’s rail network with Turkey’s through a new border point, a key infrastructure priority of Iran’s current administration. Zakeri noted that while preliminary studies and required approvals have been completed, the project is on the verge of entering its execution phase. Contractual arrangements are being finalized for an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement, with the contractor expected to commence detailed supplementary studies immediately after signing.
The project spans approximately 324 kilometers, beginning at Khavaran and extending through Tabriz and Marand to Cheshmeh Soraya. The route includes upgrading and double-tracking segments, notably the Tabriz-Marand section, along with constructing tunnels totaling around 14-15 kilometers near Yam and Marand. The route length was revised upward from earlier estimates to meet standardized technical requirements for the entire east-west corridor linking Sarakhs to Cheshmeh Soraya.
Environmental assessments and permitting processes, including the Article 23 permit, have been completed, clearing a major hurdle for project mobilization. The implementation will proceed in three phases: initial construction and track doubling, followed by electrification and installation of signaling systems, and finally, deployment of rolling stock.
Financing remains a key focus, with the Planning and Budget Organization coordinating funding efforts. The first phase requires an estimated $1.8 billion, sourced from government allocations and other financial mechanisms. Seyyed Hamid Pourmohammadi, Vice President and Head of the Planning and Budget Organization, emphasized the project’s significance within the government’s broader infrastructure agenda.
Reza Rahmani, Governor of West Azarbaijan Province, highlighted the railway’s strategic importance for regional connectivity and trade, linking Iran to Turkey, Europe, and Central Asian markets. The project is expected to enhance freight and passenger transport capacities along the northwest corridor and bolster Iran’s east-west transit capabilities.
Transport officials from both Iran and Turkey are expected to convene soon to formalize the exchange of the agreement and oversee the progression toward contract execution. The railway link is viewed as a critical step toward integrating regional transport networks and facilitating cross-border commerce.