The Baghdad–Basra Rail Line, also known as the IRR Southern Line, is a railway line that operates since 2014 between the cities of Baghdad and Basra in Iraq. It is operated by the Iraqi Republic Railways. The line is roughly 650 kilometres (400 mi) long, with intermediate cities including Karbala, Musayyib, Diwaniya, Samawah and Nasiriya. It was also planned to connect the city of Najaf to the Rail Network.[1][2]
The line was planned to be high-speed, allowing a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), but operates at an average speed of 60–70 km/h (37.3–43.5 mph) and a top speed of 125 km/h (77.7 mph).[1][3][4][5]
Frequencyedit
There is one train service per day, taking 8–12 hours, in each direction. The Baghdad to Basra train starts at Baghdad International RS at 8pm and arrives at Basra AlMaqal RS at 4:30 in the morning.[6] In reverse, the Basra to Baghdad train starts at 6 pm and arrives in Baghdad at 6:15 am.
Historyedit
The line was first announced by Thierry Mariani, a French junior transport minister, at the 2011 Paris Air Show on 24 June 2011.[1] He said that French company Alstom and the Iraqi government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a contract to build the proposed line.[2] Alstom will conduct exclusive talks with the Iraqi government for a year.[1][2] During the announcement of the deal, Mariani also said that he planned to travel to Iraq to discuss the project later in the year.[1] According to an Alstom spokesperson, the company planned to seek a contract that would cover the design, construction and operation of the line.[2]
Rolling Stockedit
In 2014, IRR received the first of an order of 10 new trains from CRRC Qingdao Sifang. The trainsets consist of two diesel-powered locomotives and eight steel bodied trailers and are specifically built to resist the high temperatures and wind-blown dust of Iraq's desert environment. [7][8]
Pricesedit
There are four categories of tickets on the line. A 2-Berth Sleeper accommodation costs 37,000 IQD or 28 Dollars. A 4-Berth option for 31,000 IQD or just under 24 USD. Second-class seating tickets in carriages with two rows of two seats each cost 10,000 IQD/8 USD and first class options will cost 15,000 IQD or just above 11 Dollars for a seat in a carriage with two rows, one with one seat and one with two. Tea, kebabs or other snacks can be purchased at the Diner-Carriage.[9][10]
Referencesedit
^ abcde"Iraq: France's Alstom signs high-speed rail line deal". BBC News Online. 24 June 2011. from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
^ abcd"Alstom tapped for Iraq HSR talks". Railway Age. 24 June 2011. from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
^"High-speed Baghdad-Basra rail line complete | Embassy of the Republic of Iraq Public Relations Office".
^Arango, Tim (18 October 2014). "A Train Ride Through Time: From Iraq's Checkered Past into an Uncertain Future". The New York Times.
^"Focus - Approaching terminus? On board Iraq's last train line". 8 December 2014.
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The Baghdad Basra Rail Line also known as the IRR Southern Line is a railway line that operates since 2014 between the cities of Baghdad and Basra in Iraq It is operated by the Iraqi Republic Railways The line is roughly 650 kilometres 400 mi long with intermediate cities including Karbala Musayyib Diwaniya Samawah and Nasiriya It was also planned to connect the city of Najaf to the Rail Network 1 2 The diesel multi units used on the service IRR Southern LineLegendBaghdad To Basrakm approx time0 Baghdad International Railway Station 0 00IRR Northern and Western9 1 Baghdad Mansur Railway Station11 9 Hamra Railway Station17 2 Dora Railway Station31 0 Yusufiya Railway StationOver Grand Channel41 2 Mahmudiya Railway Station46 8 Latifiya Railway Station61 4 Iskanderiya Alexandria Railway Station 01 0073 0 Musaiyeb Railway StationOver Euphrates97 6 Karbala Railway Station 01 4090 6 Mahawil Railway Station109 7 Hilla Babylon Railway Station 01 45Over Euphrates134 1 Hashimiya Railway Station 02 00148 9 Qojan Railway StationOver Euphrates167 3 Sharifiya Railway Station170 9 Seniya Railway StationOver Euphrates185 5 Diwaniya Railway Station 03 00203 9 Bani Median Railway Station215 0 Hamza Railway Station230 9 Rumeitha Railway Station237 0 Abu Tubeikh Railway Station249 9 Hijama Railway Station 04 00267 0 Sawa Railway StationOver Euphrates275 3 Samawa Railway Station 04 15299 5 Khafora Railway Station313 8 Khuder Railway Station328 7 Daraji Railway Station 05 00346 4 Batha Railway Station364 4 Quziya Railway Station381 3 Nasiriya Railway Station 05 50Over Grand Channel396 3 Khandaq Railway Station 06 00408 6 Suq Ash Shuyukh Railway Station420 0 Karmashiya Railway StationHamar Marsh433 7 Showeiya Railway Station440 0 Howeysa Railway Station448 8 Luqeyt Railway Station 07 00Over Grand Channel461 7 Ghabashiya Railway Station477 3 Jazair Railway Station482 0 Sidra Railway Station487 5 Artawa Rail Station504 7 Romayla Railway Station521 5 Tuba Railway Station 08 00Shoeyba JunctionTo Um Qasr536 9 Shoeyba Railway StationOver Basra Canal552 9 Basra Maqal Railway Station 08 30Over Shatt Al ArabLine to Shalamcheh Under Counstruction Contents 1 Speed 2 Frequency 3 History 4 Rolling Stock 5 Prices 6 ReferencesSpeed editThe line was planned to be high speed allowing a top speed of 250 km h 155 mph but operates at an average speed of 60 70 km h 37 3 43 5 mph and a top speed of 125 km h 77 7 mph 1 3 4 5 Frequency editThere is one train service per day taking 8 12 hours in each direction The Baghdad to Basra train starts at Baghdad International RS at 8pm and arrives at Basra AlMaqal RS at 4 30 in the morning 6 In reverse the Basra to Baghdad train starts at 6 pm and arrives in Baghdad at 6 15 am History editThe line was first announced by Thierry Mariani a French junior transport minister at the 2011 Paris Air Show on 24 June 2011 1 He said that French company Alstom and the Iraqi government had signed a memorandum of understanding MOU regarding a contract to build the proposed line 2 Alstom will conduct exclusive talks with the Iraqi government for a year 1 2 During the announcement of the deal Mariani also said that he planned to travel to Iraq to discuss the project later in the year 1 According to an Alstom spokesperson the company planned to seek a contract that would cover the design construction and operation of the line 2 Rolling Stock editIn 2014 IRR received the first of an order of 10 new trains from CRRC Qingdao Sifang The trainsets consist of two diesel powered locomotives and eight steel bodied trailers and are specifically built to resist the high temperatures and wind blown dust of Iraq s desert environment 7 8 Prices editThere are four categories of tickets on the line A 2 Berth Sleeper accommodation costs 37 000 IQD or 28 Dollars A 4 Berth option for 31 000 IQD or just under 24 USD Second class seating tickets in carriages with two rows of two seats each cost 10 000 IQD 8 USD and first class options will cost 15 000 IQD or just above 11 Dollars for a seat in a carriage with two rows one with one seat and one with two Tea kebabs or other snacks can be purchased at the Diner Carriage 9 10 References edit a b c d e Iraq France s Alstom signs high speed rail line deal BBC News Online 24 June 2011 Archived from the original on 27 June 2011 Retrieved 27 June 2011 a b c d Alstom tapped for Iraq HSR talks Railway Age 24 June 2011 Archived from the original on 28 June 2011 Retrieved 27 June 2011 High speed Baghdad Basra rail line complete Embassy of the Republic of Iraq Public Relations Office Arango Tim 18 October 2014 A Train Ride Through Time From Iraq s Checkered Past into an Uncertain Future The New York Times Focus Approaching terminus On board Iraq s last train line 8 December 2014 https www seat61 com Iraq Barry Keith 24 March 2014 After Decades of War Iraq Adds Fleet of New Trains to Its Aging Railway Wired Retrieved 23 September 2020 New Iraqi inter city train rolled out https www seat61 com Iraq https www youngpioneertours com taking train iraq basra baghdad Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baghdad Basra high speed rail line amp oldid 1184357093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
