1. (1992-2006) Building of a network Trans-Asian Railway Economic Affairs officer Pierre Chartier Transport & Tourism Division 2 nd UIC Regional Assembly Esfahan 29 -30 May 2007 for the Middle East

2. Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development Project (A L T I D) A L T I D Transport Facilitation Asian Highway Trans-Asian Railway Need to manage economic integration Increased mobility requirements Pressure on existing infrastructure

3. distances are of a scale for which railways are economically well suited reliance on ports to connect national economies to world’s market economic lifeline for landlocked countries recognition of rail as environmentally friendly and safe mode of transport continued surge in volumes of goods being traded internationally i. ii. iii. iv. v. TAR role in sustained mobility Improve intraregional linkages Improve interregional linkages Trans-Asian Railway component of ALTID - connections to major ICD - capital-to-capital links Route selection criteria - connections to main industrial and agricultural centres - connections to major sea and river ports A L T I D Trans-Asian Railway

4. - connections to major ICD - capital-to-capital links Route selection criteria - connections to main industrial and agricultural centres - connections to major sea and river ports Trans-Asian Railway component of ALTID A L T I D Trans-Asian Railway TAR role in sustained mobility Improve intraregional linkages Improve interregional linkages Network definition (corridor studies) Network formalization (Intergovernmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway Network) Network operationalization A ‘three-phase’ approach i. ii. iii. (demonstration runs of container block-trains along Trans-Asian Railway Northern Corridor)

5. The identified network South-east Asia : North-east Asia : Central Asia & Caucasus: South Asia, IR of Iran & Turkey: 12,600 km 32,500 km 13,200 km 22,600 km 80,900 km Trans-Asian Railway

6. Formalization of Asian Highway Intergovernmental Agreements Trans-Asian Railway Integrated international intermodal network Ministers’ vision of Ministerial Conference on Infrastructure, Nov. 2001 Formalization of Trans-Asian Railway Formalizing the network

7. Moscow Tianjin Ulaan baatar 8-11 November 2003 1,700 km - 75 hours 20 min. 1 22.5 km/h - 542 km/day Vostochny Malaszewicze July 2004 10,350 km - 12 days 8 hours 4 35 km/h - 840 km/day Brest Ulaan 15-24 June 2004 7,200 km - 8 days 16 hours 3 35 km/h - 830 km/day Almaty Lianyungang 22-29 April 2004 5,020 km - 7 days 6 hours 2 29.2 km/h - 694 km/day Operating the network Demonstration runs of container block-trains

8. Creating a T R P A R E N S H I P Network development Governments Railway organizations International financial institutions Private sector

9. Moscow Bandar Abbas Tehran The Future of inter-regional linkages Development of the North-South corridor Only available continuous land-routes from Moscow to port of Bandar Abbas were via Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Islamic Republic of Iran Distance: 7,600 – 7,900 km

10. Moscow Bandar Abbas Tehran The Future of inter-regional linkages Development of the North-South corridor Only available continuous land-routes from Moscow to port of Bandar Abbas were via Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Islamic Republic of Iran Distance: 7,600 – 7,900 km May 2005: Opening of the line between Mashhad and Bafq February 2006: railways of Turkmenistan completes the line between Dashowuz and Ashgabat Distance: 5,550 km

11. Moscow Bandar Abbas Tehran The Future of inter-regional linkages Development of the North-South corridor Only available continuous land-routes from Moscow to port of Bandar Abbas were via Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Islamic Republic of Iran Distance: 7,600 – 7,900 km May 2005: Opening of the line between Mashhad and Bafq February 2006: railways of Turkmenistan completes the line between Dashowuz and Ashgabat Distance: 5,550 km Shorter future option is via Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Islamic Republic of Iran (after completion of Astara – Qazvin section Distance: 4,200 km

12. The Future of inter-regional linkages Middle East connections European Union New Delhi Ashgabat Tashkent Almaty Astana Moscow Tehran Bandar Abbas South-east Asia Arak – Khosravi corridor Gateway to/from Middle East

13. The Future of inter-regional linkages Middle East connections European Union New Delhi Ashgabat Tashkent Almaty Astana Moscow Tehran Bandar Abbas South-east Asia Arak – Khosravi corridor Gateway to/from Middle East

14. Conclusions GDP growth strength of its commerce health of its economy capability to finance and sustain its development programmes Efficient transport is essential to international trade Strong political commitment Master Plan translating the vision into a programme of action A “champion” to lead the project Relay teams to implement activities at the national level A joint vision A coordinating team to review progress / guide implementation at the regional level

15. Thank you www.unescap.org/ttdw/common/TIS/TAR/tar_home.asp Esfahan, 29 - 30 May 2007 2 nd UIC Regional Assembly for the Middle East