I just had an e-mail asking:

Just wondering if you know when the Baghdad – Kirkuk (passing through Khanaqin) line was built? I’m based in Khanaqin and a local sheihk showed me a lantern from this railway.

According to Middle East Railways by Hugh Hughes, the metre-gauge line from Baghdad reached Tiaruq on the Persian frontier in January 1919, and was diverted to “a more useful terminus at Khanaqin” in 1922. The Jalula – Kingerban section dates from 1919, and was extended to Tuz Khurmatu (April 1925) and Kirkuk (August 1925).

It seems the line was taken out of service in 1987, when the standard gauge line from Baiji to Kirkuk was opened. A groundbreaking ceremony had been held in Baiji on February 8 1983, and the ceremonial inauguration was carried out by Minister of Communications Mohammed Hamza Al Zubaidi on November 7 1987.

Rainer Fuchs is developing some webpages and looking for further information about Iraqi Railway Stamps . He has a scan of an Iraq Railways post card issued originally by Turkey, and later overprinted Iraq In British Occupation.

A November 30 press release.

By Suzanne M. Fournier
Gulf Region Southern District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Twenty-eight railroad stations in the Iraq’s Southern provinces are now modernized, starting at Iskandariyah Station in Northern Babil, just south of Baghdad, reaching south into Thi-Qar Province.
Residents living in Babil, Qadisiyah, Muthana and parts of Thi Qar Provinces can now catch the train at their local train station and travel to destinations within the region, boarding and exiting at clean, safe, healthy, remodeled railroad stations. Rail stations throughout these southern provinces have been repaired, plastered, painted and restored with electricity, water and toilets.

Thi-Qar has two of nine renovations completed. Thi-Qar and Basrah Province rail stations are scheduled to have renovations finished by Spring of next year.

Rail station renovations provide community residents with safe and healthy access to the rail transportation system. Passengers can use the stations to access travel within their local area and eventually to travel throughout Iraq and destinations beyond.

Local businesses can now use the renovated rail stations to ship and receive commodities by scheduling freight movement with their local station master. This will make it easier for businessmen and farmers to ship their products to regional and global markets.

The rail station renovations were completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers using Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds.

These existing railroad stations were neglected for decades and previously were in unsafe, unsanitary and unprofessional condition. The renovation work began with cleaning, removing garbage and demolishing unsafe structures. Then terrazzo floor tiles were replaced, plaster was repaired, walls were painted, ceramic tile added to bathrooms, new windows and screens, septic and water systems were replaced, electricity was upgraded and backup generators were installed to provide completely refurbished railroad stations.

Portal Iraq reports:

Ninety-seven railway stations have been renovated by the Facilities & Transportation (F&T) Sector of the Project & Contracting Office (PCO). The $42 million railroad program has 28 more stations to complete.

Forty-one of the completed stations are in northern Iraq throughout the governorates of Salah al-Din, Ninewa and Tameem.

…

There are two main types of railway stations under renovation: five-room crew stations used only by railway workers, and nine-room passenger stations for use both by railway passengers and railway workers, according to the PCO. Of the 97 railway stations to be worked on by the PCO, approximately 22 are passenger stations; the rest are crew stations only.

Currently the railway works out to be about 30 percent passenger use and 70 percent freight use. [more]

Dalian Locomotive Works has a news release about Iraq’s ambassador to China visiting the plant on June 17. It’s in Chinese, but a Babelfish translation gives the general idea.

… several years ago, the Dalian locomotive company has with the Iraqi railroad aspect has exported the locomotive project the cooperation, in the recent two years, the our company in the locomotive variety, the productivity as well as the foreign cooperation aspect also had the considerable development, the company has wanted and has the ability to provide the quality product and the good service in the Iraqi railroad reconstruction process. Ismail Ambassador to company’s warm reception expression thanks. His outline introduced the Iraqi railroad present situation, pointed out, at present Iraq is carrying on the postwar reconstruction, has the giant market demand in the railroad construction aspect. He indicates believed that, between both countries government and the people the deep traditional friendship and the Dalian locomotive company will have the good cooperation solid foundation based on Iraq in with the Iraqi railroad, both sides has been able to seek the broad cooperation in the Iraqi iron reconstruction process.

News from Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, 2005-07-20

In a meeting of Iraq’s minister of trans. and RAI President on July 16,2005, both parties stressed on the earlier start of khorramshahr-Basreh railway .

As told by Iraqi delegates, the feasibility studies of the plan has been finished in Iraq . In this meeting Iraq’s minister of trans. pointed to the 600 thousand tones of petroleum and its derivatives being exported through Syria’s railways and expressed hope that the establishment of the project will make easier rail connections for Iraq.

He also declared Iraq’s willingness to take advantage of Iran’s expertise in construction of Karbala –Najaf railway and overhauling of locomotives and wagons.

RAI president also expressed Iran’s inclination for construction of Khorramshahr- Basreh railway and referred to the two operational phases : firstly, infrastructure and superstructure of tracks throughout the way in Iran and Iraq and secondly, bridge construction over Arand –Roud.

At the end of meeting, Iraq’s delegation visited Tehran Railway station.