Iran’s Railway Engineering Company Pursues Expansion into Neighboring Countries

TEHRAN (Iran News) Moeini revealed that Travers has received proposals to export products and provide services in neighboring nations, particularly Iraq and Afghanistan. “These countries have sought our assistance, especially in railway construction, specialized machinery, and supplying railway sleepers,” he said. In Afghanistan, specific requests have been made to complete railway lines from Herat toward the west and northwest of the country, while in Iraq, negotiations are underway for several projects involving the construction and modernization of railway lines.

Moeini highlighted that Iran’s railway standards comply with the International Union of Railways (UIC), enabling Travers to operate in countries such as Turkey, Turkmenistan, and members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). He also noted that Iran’s Seventh Development Plan mandates the electrification of certain railway lines and the deployment of high-speed trains, areas in which Travers has expertise, particularly in maintenance and repair.

“We possess state-of-the-art machinery and, with government support, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, and the Railway Company of Iran, we can procure railway equipment from abroad. This strengthens our position to compete in exporting services and products,” Moeini stated. However, he acknowledged the need to adopt cutting-edge technologies, modern engineering studies, and global advancements, revealing plans to implement AI-based initiatives in the coming year.

Travers employs 5,200 personnel across Iran, engaged in constructing, modernizing, maintaining, and repairing railway lines and networks. The company is responsible for over 70% of the maintenance of Iran’s 14,000-kilometer rail network. Moeini noted that more than 10,000 kilometers of railway lines have been built since the Islamic Revolution, with Travers contributing to 80% of that development.

Among its notable projects, Travers has constructed the second Tehran-Mashhad railway line, Lines 1 and 2 of the Bafq-Bandar Abbas route, as well as railways connecting Qazvin-Rasht, Maragheh-Urmia, Isfahan-Shiraz, and Kerman-Zahedan. The company is also involved in metro projects, including Line 1 of the Isfahan Metro, Lines 1 and 2 of the Mashhad Metro, Lines 5 and 7 of the Tehran Metro, Line 2 of the Karaj Metro, and the Karaj-Hashtgerd Metro line. Additionally, Travers is building a significant portion of the Islamshahr urban tunnel project.

Last year, Travers completed a 150-kilometer section of the 700-kilometer Zahedan-Chabahar railway, from Zahedan to Khash, in collaboration with the Khatam al-Anbia Construction Headquarters. The company is also supplying equipment for the Shalamcheh-Basra railway linking Iran and Iraq.

Travers operates four active factories in Karaj, Andimeshk, Qazvin, and Shirgah, producing concrete products and railway equipment for both rail and other civil projects. Moeini underscored the company’s efforts to diversify its offerings in 2024—designated as the year of “Production Leap with People’s Participation”—while addressing labor issues despite national economic challenges.

To optimize its fleet, Travers has tackled the overhaul of specialized machinery such as loaders, bulldozers, excavators, rollers, and graders, many of which had been idle due to financial constraints. Through a “lease-with-repair” model, 55 machines were transferred to 14 capable private entities, generating employment for 155 operators and service workers, boosting project activity, and creating revenue through rentals.

Refuting claims of bankruptcy, Moeini clarified that Travers was last evaluated in 2014 after its transfer to the government, with its current value estimated at over 4 trillion tomans (approximately $95 million USD at current rates). “We are not bankrupt under Article 141 of the Commercial Code,” he asserted, adding that an ongoing asset revaluation will help eliminate accumulated losses.

Despite tax, insurance, and banking debts, Travers has kept all four factories operational and avoided layoffs. Moeini confirmed that workers’ salaries are up to date, social security benefits have been modernized, and additional support, such as holiday bonuses, has been provided.

Looking ahead, Moeini expressed optimism that with continued cooperation from tax, banking, and insurance authorities, Travers will resolve its financial challenges by next year, further solidifying its role in Iran’s infrastructure and regional expansion.