Iraq Mobilizes Transport, Service, and Security Plans as Millions Gather for Arbaeen in Karbala

Iraq Mobilizes Transport, Service, and Security Plans as Millions Gather for Arbaeen in Karbala
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Iraqi authorities and religious service organizations have intensified preparations for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, deploying hundreds of buses, expanding railway services, supporting Hussaini processions, and maintaining security measures to facilitate the movement and accommodation of millions of pilgrims heading to the holy city of Karbala.

The General Company for Passenger Transport and Delegations, affiliated with Iraq’s Ministry of Transport, announced the continuation of its transportation plan for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, with hundreds of buses operating from Baghdad and various Iraqi provinces toward Karbala.

The company’s Director General Karim Kazim Hussein said additional buses are being added to service as the number of pilgrims continues to increase. He added that drivers, technicians, and administrative teams remain on full alert to ensure vehicle readiness and provide safe and organized transportation.

The company has previously allocated 570 buses and coaches of different capacities for the pilgrimage season, while buses stationed at border crossings continue transporting international pilgrims arriving from outside Iraq to the holy cities.

Rail services have also begun supporting the return journey of pilgrims after completing their Arbaeen rituals. Iraq Railways announced the departure of the first train from Karbala to Basra, passing through Hilla, Diwaniyah, Samawah, and Nasiriyah, with ticket reservations available at Karbala station.

Meanwhile, the “Great Hussaini Project” associated with the office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Husseini al-Shirazi continues providing services for pilgrims and supporting Hussaini processions in Karbala. The project distributes more than 15,000 hot meals daily, supplies over 200,000 loaves of bread through mobile bakeries, and provides more than 60,000 blocks of hygienic ice free of charge to service processions.

Hundreds of volunteers are also working with Karbala Municipality to clean and maintain roads leading to the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and al-Abbas (peace be upon them), ensuring a suitable environment for visitors.

Security officials confirmed that all routes leading to Karbala, border crossings, and airports remain secure and operational, with security and service teams working around the clock to maintain smooth movement for domestic and international pilgrims during the peak of the Arbaeen pilgrimage.