Editing Transport in Iran (section)

== Railways ==
[[File:Map Iran railways en.svg|thumb|Railway system map (2020)|right]]

{{Main|Islamic Republic of Iran Railways|Iranian railway industry}}

*Total: 11,106&nbsp;km<ref name="rai.ir" /> Plan to increase total railways length from 13,500&nbsp;km in 2016 to 20,000&nbsp;km by 2025.<ref name=BYI1 />
**Standard gauge: 8,273&nbsp;km of {{RailGauge|1435mm}} gauge (146&nbsp;km electrified) (2006)
**Broad gauge: 94&nbsp;km of {{RailGauge|1676mm}} gauge (connected to [[Pakistan Railways]])
Electrified railway is 146&nbsp;km from [[Tabriz]] to Jolfa and the tender for electrification of [[Tehran]]–[[Mashhad]] has been finished according to [[Railway electrification in Iran]].
Note: Broad-gauge track is employed at the borders with [[Azerbaijan]] Republic and [[Turkmenistan]] which have {{RailGauge|1520mm}} [[Russian gauge|broad gauge]] rail systems; 41&nbsp;km of the standard gauge, electrified track is in suburban service at Tehran (2007).

The majority of transport in Iran is road-based. The government plans to transport 3.5% of the passenger volume and 8.5% of the freight volume by rail. [[Railway electrification in Iran|Extensive electrification]] is planned. According to the Ministry of R&T,The railway network expands by about 500&nbsp;km per year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ministry of R&T |url=http://www.mrt.ir/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020311121203/http://www.mrt.ir/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2002-03-11 }}</ref>

=== Railway links with adjacent countries ===
In December 2014, a rail line from Iran opened to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. The opening of the line marks the first direct rail link between Iran, Kazakhstan and China and upon completion direct rail transport between China and Europe (while avoiding Russia) will be possible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLT5ILax54w|title=Opening of railway corridor 'Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran'|last=Kazakh TV|date=3 December 2014|access-date=1 June 2018|via=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814165637/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLT5ILax54w|archive-date=14 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran Railway to Open Today, by Onur Uysal, http://railturkey.org/2014/12/03/kazakhstan-turkmenistan-iran-railway/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205161547/http://railturkey.org/2014/12/03/kazakhstan-turkmenistan-iran-railway/ |date=2014-12-05 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Afghanistan}} [[Transport in Afghanistan#Rail|Afghanistan]] – completed in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/khaf-herat-railway-project/|title = Khaf-Herat Railway Project, Iran-Afghanistan - Railway Technology}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} [[Transport in Azerbaijan#Railways|Azerbaijan]] – [[break-of-gauge]] {{RailGauge|1435mm}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}} (Only to [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhichevan]], planned link to Azerbaijan proper for building Russia-Iran corridor)
* {{flagicon|Armenia}} [[Transport in Armenia#Railways|Armenia]] – planned – [[break of gauge]] {{RailGauge|1435mm}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3377/html/economy.htm |title= Iran Daily - Domestic Economy - 04/19/09|website=www.iran-daily.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622201104/http://www.iran-daily.com/1388/3377/html/economy.htm |archive-date=June 22, 2009}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Transport in Iraq#Railways|Iraq]] – part under construction, part planned.
** one long link from [[Arak, Iran|Arak]] via [[Kermanshah]] to [[Baghdad]]
** one short link of about 50&nbsp;km links [[Khorramshahr]] to [[Basra]] and is due for completion in 2006.
* {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Transport in Pakistan#Rail|Pakistan]] – [[break-of-gauge]] {{RailGauge|1435mm}}/{{RailGauge|1676mm}} - missing link from [[Bam, Iran|Bam]] to [[Zahedan]] completed 2009.
* {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Transport in Turkey#Railways|Turkey]] – via [[Lake Van]] – [[train ferry]] - {{RailGauge|1435mm}}
* {{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} [[Rail transport in Turkmenistan|Turkmenistan]] – [[break-of-gauge]] {{RailGauge|1435mm}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}}

=== Couplings, brakes and electrification ===
* [[Railway coupling|Couplers]] – [[SA3 coupler|SA3]] and buffers
* [[Brake (railway)|Brakes]] – air
* [[Electrification]] – [[25 kV AC]]