Russia, Turkmenistan to soon launch regular container service along North-South corridor

MOSCOW. Oct 20 (Interfax) - Russia and Turkmenistan plan to soon launch a regular container service along the North-South international transport corridor, Russian Railways (RZD) CEO Oleg Belozerov said following talks in Ashgabat on the development of shipments along the eastern route of this corridor.

The North-South corridor runs along the railways of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran and then by sea to countries in the Persian Gulf and South Asia. The first container trains and trains carrying fertilizer have been dispatched from Russia to India through the Iranian port of Bander Abbas.

"The organization of shipments of coke, metallurgical products and a number of other goods through Turkmenistan and Iran to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and some other countries is being explored," RZD said.

Russian exports along the eastern route of the North-South corridor could top 5 million tonnes per year by 2025, according to preliminary estimates.