IRAN, ARMENIA MULLING RAILROAD PROJECT

press tv
Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:38:26

Iran and Armenia are to create a working group to coordinate the
construction of a railroad that would link the two neighbors.

Yerevan is conducting feasibility studies on three areas as
construction points for the Armenian part of the railroad namely
Eraskh, Vardenis and Gagarin.

Armenian Minister of Communication and Transport Gurgen Sargsyan said
the country prefers the third point, a 397-kilometer railroad linking
the central cities of Gagarin and Gavar to Martuni and Jermuk which
lie further south.

About 80 kilometers of the railroad will run through Iran as far as
the northwestern city of Marand.

Russia has also voiced interest in cooperating with Iran and Armenia
in constructing the railroad and talks are underway between the three
countries, he added.

Sargsyan had earlier estimated the cost of construction of the railroad
to be around $2 billion.