October 21 - RZD Logistics - a subsidiary of United Transport and Logistics Company (UTLC) - has begun shipping equipment by rail from Russia to Iran for chemical and engineering plant manufacturer Ruzkhimmash.
RZD Logistics plans to make four shipments by the end of 2015, with the first batch of 15 railcars expected to arrive at the Sarakhs station on the Turkmenistan-Iran border by October 25, 2015.
Dmitry Antonov, advisor to the president of UTLC and project coordinator, said that the company is working hard to gain additional transit cargo on the North-South transport corridor.
"At present large cargo flows go through the Sarakhs and the Inche-Barun border crossings. But the difference in gauge size in Russia and in the Eastern countries is hampering the transport corridor development. That is why the additional rolling stock is in high demand in Iran," said Antonov.
The project currently includes around 100-150 cars shipments per month. According to RZD Logistics, using the North-South rail transport corridor reduces the cost of shipping by 20-30 percent, as well as decreasing delivery time in comparison with the Suez Canal.
