14 February 2007
SHIRAZ, Fars: Pars Wagon Company, Iran's largest train car manufacturer, has strongly criticized import of foreign carriages with its managing director calling continued imports a 'serious challenge' to the national rail transportation sector.
Javad Taher-Afshar told reporters that China has managed to dominate the international rail industry including the Iranian market. "We currently have the capacity to supply half of the country's train cars as well as the required technical equipment," he said.
The official further said that domestic industries have planned to manufacture 2,000 metro cars, 1,300 train cars, 1,800 cargo wagons and 360 locomotives by 2010, stressing that the rail industry creates so many jobs.
He said that Iran-made train cars are of superior to imported ones.
Taher-Afshar said earlier this month that his company has manufactured the country's first intercity express train.
He told IRNA that the firm has built the train upon the order of Raja rail transport company.
"This train has four cars and is equipped with advanced safety equipment," he said, adding that the first Iran-made express train runs at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
He said the 252-seat train will operate on the Tehran-Mashhad and Mashhad-Zanjan routes, adding that it is equipped with the world's latest technologies.
He further noted that the company is capable of manufacturing six such trains per annum.
The official said the second train is now being tested and that a third one is being assembled.
Iran is planning to develop its rail transport sector following growing criticisms of the aviation industry in the wake of a remarkable increase in the number of fatal air crashes in recent years.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, the Iran Power Plant Projects Management (Mapna) and Germany's Siemens have signed a contract for constructing 150 locomotives for passenger trains.
Under the contract, the German company is committed to export to Iran some 30 locomotives in the first phase and manufacture another 120 using domestic capacities and expertise over the next six years.
Mousa Zaman, managing director of Mapna Group, said the foreign party has also undertaken to transfer the locomotive manufacturing technologies to the Iranian side over a 10-year period.
The new locomotives reportedly produce lower emissions, save power and steam and run at a speed of above 160 kilometers per hour, he said.
SHIRAZ, Fars: Pars Wagon Company, Iran's largest train car manufacturer, has strongly criticized import of foreign carriages with its managing director calling continued imports a 'serious challenge' to the national rail transportation sector.
Javad Taher-Afshar told reporters that China has managed to dominate the international rail industry including the Iranian market. "We currently have the capacity to supply half of the country's train cars as well as the required technical equipment," he said.
The official further said that domestic industries have planned to manufacture 2,000 metro cars, 1,300 train cars, 1,800 cargo wagons and 360 locomotives by 2010, stressing that the rail industry creates so many jobs.
He said that Iran-made train cars are of superior to imported ones.
Taher-Afshar said earlier this month that his company has manufactured the country's first intercity express train.
He told IRNA that the firm has built the train upon the order of Raja rail transport company.
"This train has four cars and is equipped with advanced safety equipment," he said, adding that the first Iran-made express train runs at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour.
He said the 252-seat train will operate on the Tehran-Mashhad and Mashhad-Zanjan routes, adding that it is equipped with the world's latest technologies.
He further noted that the company is capable of manufacturing six such trains per annum.
The official said the second train is now being tested and that a third one is being assembled.
Iran is planning to develop its rail transport sector following growing criticisms of the aviation industry in the wake of a remarkable increase in the number of fatal air crashes in recent years.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, the Iran Power Plant Projects Management (Mapna) and Germany's Siemens have signed a contract for constructing 150 locomotives for passenger trains.
Under the contract, the German company is committed to export to Iran some 30 locomotives in the first phase and manufacture another 120 using domestic capacities and expertise over the next six years.
Mousa Zaman, managing director of Mapna Group, said the foreign party has also undertaken to transfer the locomotive manufacturing technologies to the Iranian side over a 10-year period.
The new locomotives reportedly produce lower emissions, save power and steam and run at a speed of above 160 kilometers per hour, he said.
© Iran Daily 2007
