Iraq to Launch High-Speed Rail as Part of Development Road Project

Iraq to Launch High-Speed Rail as Part of Development Road Project
………….

Iraq’s Ministry of Transport announced that the Development Road project will include the construction of high-speed railway lines designed to carry nearly 14 million passengers annually. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize the country’s transport network and boost economic growth.

Ministry spokesperson Meytham Al-Safi described the project as a cornerstone of Iraq’s transport strategy. The first phase, expected to be completed by 2031, will revive old railway routes stretching from Basra to Baghdad and onward to the northern provinces. Negotiations are currently underway with the World Bank to secure financing.

According to Al-Safi, the rail system will link Iraq’s ports and airports with regional and international routes, connecting to Europe through east-west corridors. He added that the ministry is also advancing plans for an 85-kilometer suspended railway between Karbala and Najaf, while existing lines, particularly those connecting Baghdad, Basra, and central provinces, remain in active service.