LAHORE: Operation of Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) freight train, which was set to resume from Thursday (tomorrow) after a period of over nine years, has been delayed for two weeks due to administrative and functional issues.

The issues include some apprehensions from the freight forwarders, dilapidated condition of the railway track between Taftan-Quetta and Sukkur, Dawn has learnt.

A senior PR official said that the train would resume operation by the end of this month.

“In a virtual meeting of the ITI freight train working group of the 10 member countries organisation – Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) – held on Monday, it was revealed that the private freight forwarders in three countries — Turkey, Iran and Pakistan — have some apprehension/observations about tariff/fare, duration, safety, security etc. Coordination on their part is another issue. Hopefully, they will make a final decision about booking their goods within next week,” Pakistan Railways Chief Marketing Manager Kashif Yousfani told Dawn on Tuesday.

“It may take approximately two weeks as I am sure that the operation of ITI train, named as ECO train, will resume by the end of this month,” he said.

Mr Yousafni said the Turkish railways had already booked goods consisting of 20 containers and the PR also told the Pakistani freight forwarders to submit their proposals (if any) in this regard.

Talking about the condition of the track, he said though it was not good, it did not mean it was unfit for the trains’ operation.

“The condition of the track is not so good. But it is fit for the freight trains since they run with the maximum speed of 50km per hour,” he explained.

Mr Yousfani said the railways divisional superintendents concerned had been directed to ensure complete maintenance of the track before resumption of the train.

It is pertinent to mention that the first train from Islamabad to Istanbul was inaugurated on Aug 14, 2009.

The first train from Istanbul to Islamabad dry port reached on Aug 13, 2010. So far, eight trains have been dispatched from Pakistan to Turkey.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2021