The Ukrainian Railways public joint-stock company (Ukrzaliznytsia) is finalizing approval of a contract with Iran under which Ukrzaliznytsia employees will participate in the construction of a railway in Iran. As Ukrzaliznytsia told the CFTS portal, both parties will sign the document in Kyiv after all the details are finalized.

Cooperation between Ukraine and Iran on railway construction was also discussed during a visit to Iran from 5 to 7 February by a delegation from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Ukrzaliznytsia.

Twenty-seven employees of the Prydniprovska Railway (a division of Ukrzaliznytsia) are expected to travel to Iran to work. Dozens of railway equipment will also be sent.

The first phase of the railway construction project in Iran will be implemented on the Kermanshah-Malayer railway section. It will involving laying 164.5 kilometers of track skeleton on a ballast bed, 41 kilometers of station tracks, and 175.7 kilometers of continuous welded rail, as well as mounting 138 sets of track switches on concrete bars. The estimated cost of the work is USD 2.3 million. In addition, the possibility of construction of a double-track section from Tabriz to Mianeh with a length of 240 kilometers is being considered.

Ukrainian railway workers are expected to perform railway-engineering work in Iran for 1.5 years.

Ukrzaliznytsia may build 1,000 kilometers of railway infrastructure in Iran in accordance with a memorandum that was signed between the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure and the Iranian Ministry of Railways and Urban Development in July 2016.

As reported, Ukrzaliznytsia’s Board Chairman Wojciech Balczun announced the signing of the relevant contract in August last year. It was stated at the time that about 100 workers from the Prydniprovska Railway would be sent to Iran.