Andrew Grantham’s (@andrew_grantham) blog (with excellent photos) on Amanullah’s railway line, the great symbol of progress, from Kabul to Darulaman.https://t.co/uduPFW3Ste (LlM)
— Afghan Historians (@AfghanHistorian) October 15, 2019
First Afghanistan to China rail freight service
The first rail shipment from Afghanistan to China via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan was dispatched earlier today during a high-level ceremony attended by officials and diplomats from four countries in the Hiratan Port. The shipment includes 1100 MTs of goods from Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/EmjF75Z6qc
— RECCA (@RECCAfghanistan) September 5, 2019
An inaugural service carrying freight for export to China by rail left Hairatan on 5 September 2019.1 It was carrying 1 100 tonnes of talc in 41 containers, which were expected to arrive in China’s Jiangxi province in around 14 days, travelling 6 700 km via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The locomotive from Uzbekistan’s national railway UTY and the containers were decorated with banners showing the flags of the four countries, and a portrait of King Amanullah.
Guests at the despatch of the first export train included Minister of Transport Yama Yari, various national and local government officials and representatives of the embassies of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China.
The first rail freight service from China to Afghanistan ran in September 2016, but the start of services in the opposite direction was delayed by bureaucratic issues.
- Afghanistan – China rail freight service sets off, Railway Gazette International, 9 September 2019. ↩
Khyber Pass Railway in 2019
By the way, I took a stroll through a few tunnels of the Khyber Railways between Landi Kotal and Landi Khana. Will post about it in the thread. pic.twitter.com/cZrrlAX2tM
— Nafees Ur Rehman (@NafeesRehmanDr) September 4, 2019
Train on the Friendship Bridge
Train crossing over the Hayratan bridge Afghan – Uzbik #border pic.twitter.com/SgjuayvX5x
— M. Nazir Qasemi (@nazir_qasemi) December 31, 2018
Friendship Bridge pictures
#Uzbekistan #Afghanistan: #Friendship Bridge over Amudarya was constructed in 1982. Northern Distribution Network, U.S. non-military supply route, still functions in a limited way and goes through this post. #CentralAsia #Security #AfghanWar Will be posting more from Termez. pic.twitter.com/rK7XV7yi6H
— Navbahor Imamova (@Navbahor) July 2, 2019
Italian investment
#DYK that the Italian Government invests in a holistic #infrastructure and #connectivity program in the #Herat region (roads, railways and airport) for the sustainable socio-economic #development of western #Afghanistan?
✈️🌉🛣️🚉@ecdelre #SDGs(10/10) pic.twitter.com/OLllsqAucj
— Italy in Afghanistan (@italyinafg) June 22, 2019
Khaf – Herat railway photos
This railway will connect #Afghanistan through #Iran to Europe.
Now #AFG is connected to #Europe through railway, air corridor & land transportation.@ashrafghani @HassanRouhani @mfa_afghanistan @ARG_AFG @aahmady pic.twitter.com/bIoyW6WQ1o
— Waheed Faizi (@Imwaheedfaizi) April 13, 2019
And confirmation of Italian funding for the fourth phase:
Italy is financing the fourth phase of the #Herat – #Khaf railway. Connectivity is crucial for economic growth of #Afghanistan and for progress towards self sustainability.@cooperazione_it @aics_it @ItalyMFA https://t.co/oJ5LoLekH2
— Italy in Afghanistan (@italyinafg) April 13, 2019
Terrorist attack on Khaf – Herat railway project
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi condemned a terrorist mine explosion at Khaf-Herat railroad that killed and injured a number of Iranian and Afghan nationals on Sunday.
Source: Iran slams Khaf-Herat railroad mine blast, Mehr News Agency, 20 May 2019
Afghanistan joins OTIF
Afghanistan: 51st member of OTIF
On 1 May 2019, Afghanistan becomes the 51st member of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage
by Rail (OTIF). The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan deposited an application for accession to COTIF and its Appendices
on 7 November 2018.Afghanistan is also a member of the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) and the Economic Cooperation
Organization (ECO). Its accession to COTIF 1999 and all its Appendices therefore helps provide international rail transport
between Europe and Asia with a uniform framework.The Secretariat of OTIF welcomes both the accession and this new Member State of OTIF.#
Source: OTIF press release, 1 May 2019
Afghanistan to join COTIF
The accession of Afghanistan to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail is scheduled to take effect on 1 May 2019.
Afghanistan is also a member of OSJD and the Economic Co-operation Organization.