Iraq is looking to complete its first railway line connecting it to its neighbor Iran within 18 months, which would significantly facilitate the transport of millions of visitors to Shiite shrines in Iraq each year, according to Nasser Al-Asadi, advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister on transportation. Al-Asadi stated in remarks to Reuters, "We expect to see trains moving in about 18 months due to the short distance."
He added that the government also intends to establish a metro line between Karbala and Najaf, two cities that are significant for Shiite clerics in Iraq. He noted that efforts are underway to clear the area before starting construction of the railway line, indicating that the railway would reduce the risks of such incidents and allow Iraq to benefit financially from ticket sales.
Iraq and Iran fought a bloody eight-year war in the 1980s, during which numerous mines were planted across large parts of the border area between the two countries. However, since the U.S. toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, Shiite parties close to Tehran have gained significant political influence in Baghdad, leading to increased economic and religious ties between the two nations.
Every year, about 20 million Muslims, most of whom are Shiites, participate in commemorating the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq. Many walk hundreds of kilometers from the Iranian-Iraqi border to Karbala, while others drive their cars or board overcrowded buses, which increases the number of accidents.
This project is part of a large development plan for the transportation sector launched by the government, which includes the renovation of Baghdad International Airport and a service project for rail and roads spanning 1,200 kilometers from a major goods port in the south to Iraq's border with Turkey.
