IRAN, ARMENIA MULLING RAILROAD PROJECT

Fars News Agency
Aug 3 2008
Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- 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 was
quoted by press tv as saying that 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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress