Van-Tehran passenger train services resume after a 5-year hiatus

Following negotiations with Iranian Railways to expand tourism potential between Turkey and Iran, Van-Tehran passenger train services have resumed after a 5-year hiatus. It was stated that the train will depart from Tehran on Sundays and Wednesdays at 12:35, and from Van on Mondays and Thursdays at 20:00. The passenger train, which departed from the Iranian capital Tehran at 12:35 Turkish time yesterday, arrived at Van Train Station today at 11:30. The 200 Iranian passengers arriving on the 7-wagon, 280-capacity train were welcomed by Governor Ozan Balcı, AK Party Van Deputy Kayhan Türkmenoğlu, TCDD Deputy General Manager Şems Çakıroğlu, Yüzüncü Yıl University Rector Prof. Dr. Hamdullah Şevli, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Adem Şen, Provincial Police Chief Murat Mutlu, Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Necdet Takva, and representatives of various NGOs. Governor Balcı and other protocol members presented roses and flowers to the passengers as they disembarked. Pleased with the welcome, the Iranian tourists expressed that traveling by train was enjoyable.

FIRST TRIP AFTER A 5-YEAR HIATUS

TCDD Deputy General Manager Şems Çakıroğlu stated that passenger transport between Iran and Turkey has resumed after 5 years, saying, “With this railway cooperation, it will be a process that contributes to each other not only in terms of passenger transport but also culturally between Iran and Turkey. In the past, nearly 10 thousand passengers were transported between Iran and Turkey. Restarting this project shows how rational and realistic it is, and that there is such a need for cultural exchange and travel. Today is the day it restarts. We are very happy about that. The passenger train has a capacity of 280 and consists of 7 wagons. A distance of 1,070 kilometers was covered in a 22-hour journey. We hope that this type of transport will continue to increase. There will be two trips per week. The first trip from Tehran to Van took 22 hours. There is a very serious demand for this journey, especially on the Tehran side, on the Iranian side. Tickets are now on sale online and at ticket offices on both the Iranian and Turkish sides. We are observing good demand. Anyone who wishes can easily purchase their tickets from where they sit, using the mobile version or online,” he said.

‘I BELIEVE MANY SECTORS WILL DEVELOP WITH THESE SERVICES’

Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Necdet Takva stated that the resumption of Van-Tehran train services is exciting, saying, "I would like to call on the authorities of both our country and the Islamic Republic of Iran, especially the Ministry of Transport, to make this matter sustainable and not to let it be disrupted for certain reasons. It is important for us; especially when we consider the place and importance of railways in the global logistics sector, these arrivals and departures will also contribute to our city and region's connection to western cities with high-speed trains and more modern railway infrastructure. Next week, as the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we will organize a trip to Iran by train with a delegation to both raise awareness and contribute to and support this process. Will it be Tabriz or Tehran? I don't know that, but we have a principled perspective with our colleagues. Therefore, I find this very important. I am someone who believes that not only in terms of tourism mobility, but also daily trade, the food and beverage sector, and many other sectors will develop and grow with these services,” he said. 

News Source: AA