Author: Andrew Grantham

Afghanistan Railway Authority joins UIC

Posted on by Andrew Grantham

The Afghanistan Railway Authority has joined the International Union of Railways, the body which aims “to promote rail transport at world level and meet the challenges of mobility and sustainable development” by sharing best practice, supporting members’ efforts to develop new business and new areas of activities, improving technical and environmental performance and promoting interoperability.1

Afghanistan becomes a member of the International Union of Railways

Kabul – The membership of Afghanistan to the International Union of Railways (UIC) was officially declared at the 83rd General Assembly ofthe UIC held on December 12 in Paris. Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Paris and the Afghanistan Railways representative participated in this biannual meeting.

Afghanistan acquires this membership while completing the construction of regional railway line pieces through the two main trade and transit ports to the railway ring network by 2040. At present, the construction of 75 km Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif railway line has been completed and the construction of 124 km railway line from Herat to Islam Qala is under construction. These two pieces of railway are parts of a 3429 km railway line which will be completed by 2025.

Membership of this Union not only aids in the facilitation of transiting Afghan and South Asian goods, but also cooperates in the security of railways, their efficiency and credibility of the interaction of railways with international standards. Looking at Afghanistan’s geographic location, members in this Union is not only beneficial to the country but also significant in terms of regional economic interaction among countries in the region. Afghanistan’s regional economic integration and credibility relates to the full integration and coordination with regional and international standards.

The UIC currently has 204 members.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 18 December 2013

There is a photo of railway construction on the website of Afghanistan’s embassy in the UK.

Announcement from Afghanistan’s embassy in Paris:

L’Afghanistan devient membre de l’Union Internationale des Chemins de Fer

Pour la première fois, l’Afghanistan a participé, jeudi 12 décembre, à l’assemblée générale de l’UIC qui s’est tenue à Paris. L’adhésion de l’Afghanistan à cette organisation mondiale du transport ferroviaire, comprenant pas moins de 240 membres répartis sur cinq continents a été approuvée à l’unanimité. La délégation afghane amenée par S.E. Dr Assad Omer, ambassadeur d’Afghanistan à Paris, était composée notamment de Mr Yama Yaris, ingénieur et conseiller de l’Autorité des Chemins de Fer d’Afghanistan. Malgré les quelques dix mille kilomètres de routes asphaltées construites et les immenses progrès réalisés en matière de transport, il est indispensable de poursuivre la construction des chemins de fer afghans. Cette activité ferroviaire s’avère indispensable au développement économique du pays permettant des connections avec les pays de la région. L’ambassadeur Omer dans son allocution de remerciement a souligné que l’Afghanistan avait déjà dans les années 10 construit un court chemin de fer et c’est seulement dans les années 70 qu’une étude compréhensive a été entreprise en coopération avec la France. Les événements tragiques dont l’Afghanistan a été victime n’ont pas permis d’aller plus loin dans la mise en œuvre de l’étude. Les années 2000 ont vu la création d’une autorité et l’élaboration de projets ambitieux. Nous sommes déterminés à retrouver notre place dans la route de la soie reliant l’Extrême-Orient, l’Asie Centrale, l’Asie du Sud, le Moyen-Orient et l’Europe. L’UIC nous apportera une coopération précieuse. L’autorité des chemins de fer en tant que membre pourra bénéficier des expertises et de la formation dont a parlé le directeur général Mr Loubinoux.

Source: Ambassade de la République Islamique d’Afghanistan, France

  1. Introduction, UIC. Accessed 22 December 2013 ↩

Ministry of Public Works commissions railway study

Posted on by Andrew Grantham

Canarail and Appleton Consulting are to undertake a 12-month feasibility study which will look into extending the Hairatan to Mazar-i-Sharif railway around 225 km west to Sheberghan, Andkhoy and Aqina, and around 50 km northeast to the border with Tajikistan.

Railway Gazette story with more details:

Afghan government commissions east – west rail study

AFGHANISTAN: The Ministry of Public Works has commissioned a feasibility study for a proposed 300 km east – west railway across northern Afghanistan.

The C$3·7m contract announced on December 11 has been awarded to Systra’s Canadian freight railway consultancy Canarail and its partner Appleton Consulting Inc, which specialises in programme management for projects in Afghanistan.

[More at RailwayGazette.com…]

The Canarail announcement:

CANARAIL SIGNS A $3.7 MILLION DEAL IN AFGHANISTAN

Canadian Rail Specialist signs a contract with the Ministry of Public Works of Afghanistan

Montreal, CANADA, December 10, 2013 – CANARAIL’s President and CEO, Mr. Miguel Valero, is proud to announce, along with its Kabul-based partner Appleton Consulting Inc., the signing of a contract with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to carry out a 300 km railway feasibility study in Northern Afghanistan. Funding for this project comes from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Building on the conclusions and recommendations of ADB’s Railway Development Study and with the objective to extend the now operational Hairatan to Mazar-e-Sharif Railway, the Government contemplates the construction of a railway heading west from Mazar-e-Sharif through Sheberghan and Andkhoy to Acqina to link with Turkmenistan, and of another railway heading northeast from Mazar-e-Sharif to the border with Tajikistan.

If proved feasible, the extension of the existing railway in both east and west directions will foster cross border and regional trade, increase rail usage, ensure the viability of the initial railway investment, and introduce competition in rail operations.

“Afghanistan has a vast potential for developing the mineral extraction sector, which may be an engine of self-sustaining economic growth in the near future. The decision to award this study to CANARAIL is another demonstration that we stand as a strong and reliable source of expertise for railway matters all over the world. We are very proud to become  Afghanistan and Asian Development Bank’s partner in identifying long term solutions for rail transportation in Afghanistan and in the region and to act as a platform for economic growth.” said Mr. Valero who is just coming back from Kabul where he finalized the contract negotiations.

CANARAIL possesses a unique expertise in rail transport, with a strong focus on heavy haul and mining sectors. Its experts have participated in major projects on an international scale over the last 20 years, contributing to the completion of some of the most important railway projects worldwide.

Despite its vast international experience and track record in the provision of rail services, this is CANARAIL’s first significant gain in Afghanistan and in the region. This success was made possible by its partnership with Appleton Consulting Inc. (ACI), a Canadian firm specialized in programme management for Afghanistan-based projects.

 ABOUT CANARAIL

Founded in 1991, CANARAIL is a CANADA-based rail consulting and engineering firm that specializes in mining, heavy haul freight, and urban domains. CANARAIL is known for its expertise in feasibility studies, consulting, detailed design, and the supervision of construction of major projects. Over the last 21 years, CANARAIL has participated in over 500 projects in Canada, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, North America, Australia, Europe, and Latin America. CANARAIL is headquartered in Montreal and is part of the French group SYSTRA, the world’s largest rail engineering organization.

ABOUT APPLETON

Appleton Consulting Inc. (ACI) is an international business consulting company that focuses on enabling unique business solutions for emerging and developing market sectors. Getting its start in Afghanistan in 2007, Appleton has participated in $400M USD dollars worth of projects with its clients and partners.  Appleton has a wide range of services for its local and international clients including project management, design services, strategic partnership development, proposal writing, supply chain management, training, and environmental consulting services.

Source: Canarail press release, 10 December 2013.

Khyber Ropeway at Ali Masjid

Posted on by Andrew Grantham

I recently acquired a postcard entitled “Alimusjid Fort with Ropeway, Khyber Pass”, published by Mela Ram & Sons of Peshawar in the 1920s.

This aerial ropeway carried freight from the railhead at Jamrud to British military posts in the Khyber Pass during the period between the Third Afghan War and the opening of the Khyber railway.

1920s postcard showing Ali Masjid fort and the Khyber Pass ropeway

The ropeway’s history has been somewhat ignored in comparison to the railway. I have been (very slowly) doing some research at various libraries, and am putting together an article which should appear on this website in due course.

If anyone knows anything about the ropeway or the Khyber Ropeway Company (the army unit which operated it) then do please get in touch. I guess it is pretty much beyond living memory now, but someone might have heard some stories, read their grandfather’s diary or have found some old photos of it tucked away.

(Also, do ropeway historical societies/publications/enthusiasts exist?)

Key leader engagement with Afghan Rail Authority

Posted on by Andrew Grantham

News from the Naibabad freight terminal, with some photos of goods being unloaded from trains.

Unloading railway wagon at Naibabad, Afghanistan (Photo: Sgt 1st Class Timothy Lawn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs, US Army/DVIDS)
Rail Port 4, Niababad, a crane lifts steel rebar rods out of a railroad gondola car, the steel rebar is then manhandled and lifted onto trucks for transportation to construction sites around Afghanistan. The steel rebar was imported through Uzbekistan. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs/Released)

Unloading railway wagon at Naibabad, Afghanistan (Photo: Sgt 1st Class Timothy Lawn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs, US Army/DVIDS)
Rail Port 4, Niababad, Afghan laborers begin the manually intensive process of offloading 100 pound plus bags of baking flour from a boxcar onto waiting semi trucks for shipment to Afghan markets. The flour was imported through Uzbekistan. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs/Released)

1st TSC Rail Advisory Team hosts key leader engagement with Afghan Rail Authority

1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Public Affairs
Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn

NIABABAD, Afghanistan – 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Afghan Rail Advisory Team, host a Key Leader Engagement with members of the Afghanistan Ministry of Customs and Industry at rail Port 4, Niababad, Afghanistan, Oct 13.

The ARAT team is comprised of civilian and military railroad operational and business experts who are working with the Afghanistan Railway Authority on a train, advise and assist mission. They also provide the ARA with railroad advice, and options on improving rail operations, safety, law enforcement and railway industry development.

Maj. Timothy Christensen leads the ARAT, hosted by the Afghan MOCI delegation at rail Port 4. The rail hub crosses the famed Friendship Bridge and links Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in the north. They presented the Afghan delegation with a map of the existing rail infrastructure at the port. The map was created by the Transportation Engineering Agency, which is part of Surface Deployment Distribution Command. Additionally, the team’s mission was to address the Afghan’s railroad business concerns.

After the meeting the ARAT team and Afghan delegation toured the rail facility.

Source: DVIDS, 21 October 2013

General surveys retrograde operations at Afghan rail port

Posted on by Andrew Grantham

DVIDS story published 28 October 2013.

General surveys retrograde operations at Afghan rail port

1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn

JCOP HAIRATAN, Afghanistan – Maj. Timothy Christensen, Manchester, Conn., native, and Afghan rail advisory team director, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, and Brig. Gen. Duane Gamble, 1st TSC, deputy commanding general, native of Arbutus, Md., survey Afghan Northern Distribution Network Rail Port 2, managed by Afghanistan Ministry of Customs and Industry, for future retrograde operations during a Regional Command North battlefield circulation, Oct. 14, 2013.

The port survey, security, and support element was comprised of joint, active duty, Army National Guard and Army Reserve combat enabling and support soldiers.

The active duty soldiers were assigned to 2nd Platoon, Cherokee Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Knox, Ky., the 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Knox, Ky., and the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

The Army National Guard soldiers were from the 1230th Transportation Company, Georgia Army National Guard, from Thomasville, Ga., and a combined leadership, survey team of active duty Army and Army Reserve combat sustainer soldiers from the 1st Theater Sustainment Command, from Fort Bragg, N.C. The joint team came together to survey the rail port and provide subject matter expert guidance on future retrograde operations.

Source: DVIDS, 28 October 2013

Photos include:

Soldiers of Cherokee Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from Fort Knox, Ky., and the 524th Combat Service and Support Battalion provide security for Sgt. Maj. James M. Lambert, left, senior enlisted adviser (Afghanistan) 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Maj. Timothy Christensen, Afghan rail advisory team director, center, a native of Manchester, Conn., 1st TSC, Brig. Gen. Duane Gamble, right, deputy commanding general, 1st TSC, Maj. Lashell Davis, tactical officer in charge, 101st Sustainment Brigade, from Fort Campbell Ky., and other 1st TSC staff, as Gamble and Christensen discuss the layout of the rail port and assess its use for retrograde operations, Oct. 14, 2013. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs/Released)

This is the only one with much railway in view:

Cherokee Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division soldier, from Fort Knox, Ky., stands behind his assigned mine resistant ambush protected vehicle and cautiously observes an Afghan civilian who is walking toward him, Oct. 14, 2013. The soldier is part of an assigned personal security detachment escorting Brig. Gen. Duane Gamble, deputy commanding general, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, on a battlefield circulation of Afghan Northern Distribution Network, Rail Port 2. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Lawn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs/Released)

Private siding at Hairatan

Posted on by Andrew Grantham

Hairatan Port : Naweed Fardeen Group of companies has his own Train line and port at Hairatan near Uzbekistan border for the purpose of have effectiveness effeciency in the busines for its customers.

There are some photos of the railway line on the website of Naweed Fardeen Group, who in addition to transport and freight forwarding, can supply you with containers, electrical goods, precious stones and carpets. The pictures include a shot of locomotive TEM2-3315

Is the Marmaray tunnel a new Silk Road?

Posted on by Andrew Grantham

Probably not just yet.

Marmaray tunnel

The Marmaray tunnel between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul was officially opened today.

Once the Marmaray project is finished the tunnel will link upgraded suburban railway lines on one side of the city to the other, with a metro-style commuter service running through (not dissimilar to London’s Crossrail project). In the longer term the Marmarary tunnel may also be used by intercity and freight trains, but details of this still seem a little vague.

Perhaps inevitably, the new tunnel is being described a part of a new Silk Road: “The Marmaray will provide a non-stop railway route connecting China to Western European markets and vice versa as a modern day “Iron Silk Road””, reports Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News.

Is there any transport project east of the Landstraße1 which is not allegedly part of a new Silk Road?

There are news reports like this at BBC News: “In theory it brings closer the day when it will be possible to travel from London to Beijing via Istanbul by train.” Well, yes, but that is perhaps not very meaningful. There is already a rail route from London to Beijing via Russia, which avoids passing through places like Iran and Turkmenistan (and currently Uzbekistan, but that will be bypassed when the new north-south line is completed sometime soon-ish).

Going from Britain to China via Istanbul rather than Russia still requires two breaks of gauge, at the Iran/Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan/China borders instead of at the Poland/Belarus and Russia/China borders. The Turkish route also requires using a train ferry across Lake Van. The ECO Train plan for freight trains from Pakistan and Central Asia to Turkey seems to have fizzled out, and I think we can safely assume that the construction of a through rail route from Iran through northern Afghanistan to Tajikistan and China is probably some way off.

  1. Variants of the phrase “Asia/the Orient/the Balkans begins at the Landstrasse/Rennweg” seem to crop up frequently, referring to an area of Vienna and usually attributed to Klemens von Metternich. Googling seems to show that there are two quotes; one is apparently “Asien fängt auf der Landstraße an” by Ferdinand Kürnberger in Asiatisch und Sselbstloss of 16 November 1871, which is itself based on Metternich’s alleged comment about the Balkans beginning at the Rennweg. ↩