Business

ECO freight train to resume operations after nine years

Writer Syeda Sadia Shahid

Posted on March 1, 2021

After a gap of 9 years ECO freight train is going to be resumed on 4^th March between Istanbul-Islamabad.

The train that connects businesses of three countries, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan is likely to resume operations. On Sunday, a senior official of the Pakistan Railways while speaking to the media said, “We have been informed by the concerned quarters that the container train would start its journey from Istanbul (Turkey) for Islamabad (Pakistan) via Zahidan on 4^th March. Though the schedule will be reasserted in a day or two, till now, 4^th March is expected to be the final date of departure of the train from Istanbul,”

He added, “ministries of foreign affairs and railways are in contact with the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Secretariat that is also in contact with the respective departments/ministries of Turkey and Iran,”

After the train will complete the one-side trip in 12 days, it is likely to reach the Islamabad dryport on 16^th March. “Pakistan Railways further plans to resume the operation of this train from 19^th, currently they are booking cargo for Iran and Turkey,” the official added.

Moreover, as per the Pakistan Railways record, the inauguration of the first train from Islamabad to Istanbul took place on 14^th August 2009. Likewise, the 1^st train from Istanbul to Islamabad dryport was reached on 13^th August 2010. Till now, almost 8 trains have been dispatched from Pakistan to Turkey. While the last ECO freight train was dispatched on 5^th November 2011 leaving the Lahore dryport.

Meanwhile, Turkey had sent at least 6 trains to Pakistan since its launch in 2009. It sent its last train on 9^th December 2011.

However, the related document reads, “The train named ‘ECO Train’ will be operated regularly on the Thursdays falling in the first week of every month. The permissible load will be 750 gross tonnes. The train length would be 420 meters,”