Pakistan to launch first freight train service to Russia

Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.

Speaking at a press conference in Multan, Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said the new freight service is part of an initiative to modernise Pakistan Railways and increase revenue through expanded logistics. He stated the project aligns with the government's goal to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

"We are building not just a railway, but an economic corridor," Abbasi said in his statement.

The freight route uses the Eastern Branch of the INSTC. The estimated transit time for the 8,000-kilometre journey from Lahore to Russia is 20-25 days, which includes time for transhipments.

A Pakistan Railways official provided details on the route. The train will depart from Lahore, travel 2,001 kilometres through Pakistan to the Taftan border crossing, and enter Iran. At Zahedan, Iran, cargo will be transferred to another train due to a rail gauge change. The journey will then proceed to the Sarakhs border with Turkmenistan. From there, the train will cross Turkmenistan and enter Kazakhstan through the Bolashak-Aktau corridor, continuing through Atyrau in western Kazakhstan before arriving at its destination of Astrakhan, Russia.

The railway gauges are compatible across Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

The first train is expected to carry 15-16 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), with about 500 tons of cargo confirmed by exporters. Plans exist to expand to a full load of 31 TEUs, pending the finalisation of freight rates.

The rail link is expected to impact bilateral trade. Pakistan's main exports to Russia include leather apparel, textiles, and electro-medical devices. Key imports from Russia include wheat, fertilisers, dried vegetables, and petroleum products.

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