Baghdad–Basra high-speed rail line

The Baghdad–Basra rail line is a railway line that operates since 2014 between the cities of Baghdad and Basra in Iraq. The line is roughly 650 kilometres (400 mi) long, with intermediate cities including Karbala, Musayyib, Najaf, and Samawah.[1][2] The line was planned to be high-speed, allowing a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), but operates at a lower speed.[1][3][4][5] There is one train service per day, taking 10–12 hours, in each direction. Both are at night. The trains are new, and made in China.[6]

The diesel multi-units used on the service.

Announcement
Proposed route
Baghdad
 Musayyib
 Karbala
 Najaf
 Samawah
 Basra

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]

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Alstom tapped for Iraq HSR talks". Railway Age. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  3. http://www.iraqiembassy.us/in-the-news/high-speed-baghdad-basra-rail-line-complete
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/world/a-train-ride-through-time-from-iraqs-checkered-past-into-an-uncertain-future.html?_r=0
  5. http://www.france24.com/en/focus/20141208-iraq-basra-baghdad-last-train-line-transport
  6. Barry, Keith (24 March 2014). "After Decades of War, Iraq Adds Fleet of New Trains to Its Aging Railway". Wired. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
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