Iran and Turkey have exchanged a formal agreement document for a new rail connection at the Cheshmeh Soraya border, paving the way for a major railway project that will link the two countries through a new crossing point.
The 324-kilometer Khavaran-Tabriz-Marand-Cheshmeh Soraya line, part of Iran's broader east-west corridor from Sarakhs to the Turkish border, has secured all necessary approvals, according to Jabbar Ali Zakeri, CEO of Iran's Railway Company. The project will be implemented under an EPC contract, with construction expected to begin within six months of signing.
"We have received the Turkish government's response and expect the document to be formally exchanged in the near future," Zakeri said during a site visit with Vice President Hamid Pourmohammadi and West Azarbaijan Governor Reza Rahmani.
The project's first phase—estimated at $1.8 billion—includes completing the Khavaran-Tabriz link, double-tracking the Tabriz-Marand section, and extending the line to Cheshmeh Soraya. Two tunnels totaling approximately 15 kilometers will be constructed along the route. Environmental assessments and the Article 23 permit have already been secured.
Future phases will see electrification, signaling systems, and rolling stock provision. The Planning and Budget Organization is coordinating financing through government resources and other mechanisms.
Pourmohammadi described the project as a priority for the government, emphasizing its role as an electrified, double-track corridor. Governor Rahmani highlighted the line's strategic importance, noting that West Azarbaijan's transport routes serve as Iran's gateway to Turkey, Europe, and Central Asia.
Beyond strengthening the east-west corridor, the railway is expected to significantly boost freight and passenger capacity between Iran and its western neighbors—a critical step in expanding non-oil trade and regional connectivity.
