COVID-19 pandemic deals blow to Iran's rail passenger traffic: report

A total of 1.1 million passengers were transported by the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (IRIR) in the first quarter of the current Iranian year, from March 20 to June 20, Eghtesad Online news website reported on Sunday.

The figure shows a 84 decrease compared to the number of rail passengers in the corresponding period of last year, the report said.

"Following the outbreak of coronavirus and in compliance with the guidelines of the National Coronavirus Headquarters, tourist trains have suspended operations. Intercity trains also run occasionally due to low demand; even operating trains run at their minimum capacity," Saeed Rasouli, the managing director of the IRIR was quoted as saying.

"It's still not evident when the tourist trains will resume their work. They won't run unless the disease is completely controlled," said Rasouli.

The government is offering a total of 40 million U.S. dollars worth of low interest loans to rail passenger transportation companies to help them get back on their feet after suffering losses inflicted by the coronavirus outbreak, he said.

Also, the Supreme Council of Transport, affiliated to the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, has approved a 20 percent rise in rail fares as of June 21, according to Mehrdad Taqizadeh, the Secretary of Iran's Guild of Rail Transport Companies.