Iranian freight train crosses Turkmenistan in transit to Uzbekistan for first time

ASTANA. Dec 2 (Interfax) - An Iranian freight train has for the first time crossed Turkmenistan in transit to Bukhara in Uzbekistan, Iranian media reported Tuesday.

The 40-car train, consisting entirely of Iranian-made wagons, departed from the Sarakhs station on the Iranian-Turkmen border carrying metallurgical products such as direct reduced iron, Iran's IRNA news agency said.

The transit is a milestone, as direct passage for Iranian railway cars through CIS countries was not previously allowed. The direct operation was made possible after extensive negotiations, according to Iran's Tinn News transport publication.

The route follows a recent six-nation railway agreement signed by Iran, China, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to expand trade and establish an efficient China-to-Europe corridor through Iran.

The east-west rail corridor could shorten delivery time by a third compared to sea routes. The inaugural transit solidifies Turkmenistan's role as a key link on the strategic Asia-Europe route.

In November, the first freight train from Russia transited Turkmenistan to Iran, carrying a large consignment of goods.