Tag Archives | railways

Transport Ministry Facilitates Basra-Shalamcheh Rail Project

By John Lee. The Minister of Transport, Wahab Al-Hussni, received the Spanish Ambassador, Alicia Rico, in Baghdad in what was described as her first official meeting with an Iraqi minister in the current government, following her earlier meeting with the Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The discussions focused on the Basra-Shalamcheh railway project, which has been […]

World Bank Approves $930m for Iraq Railway Upgrade

By John Lee. The World Bank approved on Wednesday a US$930 million [approx. IQD 1.2 trillion] loan for Iraq to modernise its railway network, strengthen domestic and regional trade, and support economic diversification. The Iraq Railways Extension and Modernization (IREM) Project will upgrade the 1,047-km railway line connecting Umm Qasr Port in the south to […]

Conference on Expansion and Modernisation of Iraqi Rail

By John Lee. The General Company for Iraqi Railways held a conference on Tuesday evening focused on the expansion and modernisation of Iraq's railway network. The event was attended by the company's Director-General, Dr. Maki Jabir Nasser, representatives from Italian consultancy firm BTP, and international specialised companies participating virtually. During the conference, Dr. Nasser, alongside […]

Surge in Int'l Investment in Iraqi Strategic Transport Projects

By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has announced increased interest from international companies in investing in Iraq's strategic transport initiatives. Aided by improved investment conditions and government policies, 2025 is expected to see exceptional foreign direct investment activity, according to the Ministry. Key opportunities include the Grand Faw Port project, with 11 shortlisted […]

British Rail Equipment Firm meets Iraqi Minister

By John Lee. As part of Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani's official visit to the United Kingdom, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Mohammed Ali Tamim met with rail equipment company Clayton Equipment Ltd (CEL) Chairman Steve Gretton. The meeting focused on fostering collaboration to modernise Iraq's railway sector according to global standards. Discussions […]

UK, Iraq announce $15bn Trade and Investment Partnership

By John Lee. Prime Ministers Keir Starmer and Mohammed S. Al-Sudani have unveiled an ambitious £12.3 billion [$15 billion] UK-Iraq trade and investment package aimed at enhancing prosperity and bilateral economic ties. The agreement represents over a tenfold increase in trade compared to last year and underscores both nations' commitment to strategic collaboration across key […]

Comprehensive Plan to Modernise Iraq's Railway System

By John Lee. Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi, announced a detailed strategy to revitalize Iraq's railway network, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to restoring and upgrading its infrastructure. Key Developments in Iraq's Railway Network: Reopened Lines After Long-Term Closures: Baghdad-Fallujah Line: Reopened after a 5-year suspension. Silo Al-Sharqat Line (Mosul): Reopened after 30 years of […]

Italian Firm to Prepare Designs for Iraq's Development Road

By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet has approved key components of the Development Road project, focusing on the rehabilitation and expansion of railways. The project, with an estimated cost of 3.932 trillion dinars [$3 billion], will be included in the Ministry of Transport's 2024 investment budget, funded through a mix of budgetary allocations and loans. […]

Iran and Iraq sign MoU for Shalamcheh-Basra Railway

By John Lee. The heads of Iran and Iraq railways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway. The agreement was signed at the Iranian consulate in Basra, marking a significant step towards the development of this crucial infrastructure project. Miad Salehi, the head of Islamic Republic of Iran […]

Iraq "Determined to Construct Shalamcheh-Basra Railway"

Iraqi Transport Minister Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi said his country is seriously determined to complete the construction operation of the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway, which had been stalled for years.# Speaking in his meeting with Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash in Tehran on Thursday, Al-Saadawi stated that the Iraqi government tries to consider the […]

KRG PM Barzani meets with German Rail Company

PM Masrour Barzani meets with representative of Deutsche Bahn railway company KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met with the representative of the German Deutsche Bahn railway company for Europe and the Middle and Near East. In the meeting, attended by the German Consul General in Erbil, the company's representative briefed the Prime Minister […]