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IRR Southern Line

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The diesel multi-units used on the service.
IRR Southern Line
Baghdad To Basra
km
approx. time
0
Baghdad International Railway Station
0:00
IRR Northern and Western
9.1
Baghdad Mansur Railway Station
11.9
Hamra Railway Station
17.2
Dora Railway Station
31.0
Yusufiya Railway Station
Over Grand Channel
41.2
Mahmudiya Railway Station
46.8
Latifiya Railway Station
61.4
Iskanderiya/Alexandria Railway Station
01:00
73.0
Musaiyeb Railway Station
Over Euphrates
97.6
Karbala Railway Station
01:40
90.6
Mahawil Railway Station
109.7
Hilla/Babylon Railway Station
01:45
Over Euphrates
134.1
Hashimiya Railway Station
02:00
148.9
Qojan Railway Station
Over Euphrates
167.3
Sharifiya Railway Station
170.9
Seniya Railway Station
Over Euphrates
185.5
Diwaniya Railway Station
03:00
203.9
Bani Median Railway Station
215.0
Hamza Railway Station
230.9
Rumeitha Railway Station
237.0
Abu Tubeikh Railway Station
249.9
Hijama Railway Station
04:00
267.0
Sawa Railway Station
Over Euphrates
275.3
Samawa Railway Station
04:15
299.5
Khafora Railway Station
313.8
Khuder Railway Station
328.7
Daraji Railway Station
05:00
346.4
Batha Railway Station
364.4
Quziya Railway Station
381.3
Nasiriya Railway Station
05:50
Over Grand Channel
396.3
Khandaq Railway Station
06:00
408.6
Suq Ash Shuyukh Railway Station
420.0
Karmashiya Railway Station
Hamar Marsh
433.7
Showeiya Railway Station
440.0
Howeysa Railway Station
448.8
Luqeyt Railway Station
07:00
Over Grand Channel
461.7
Ghabashiya Railway Station
477.3
Jazair Railway Station
482.0
Sidra Railway Station
487.5
Artawa Rail Station
504.7
Romayla Railway Station
521.5
Tuba Railway Station
08:00
Shoeyba Junction
To Um Qasr
536.9
Shoeyba Railway Station
Over Basra Canal
552.9
Basra Maqal Railway Station
08:30
Over Shatt Al Arab
Line to Shalamcheh Under Counstruction

The IRR Southern Line, also known as the Baghdad–Basra Railway Line, is a railway line that operates since 2014 between the cities of Baghdad and Basra in Iraq. It is operated by the Iraqi Republic Railways. The line is roughly 550 kilometres (340 mi) long, with intermediate cities including Karbala, Musayyib, Diwaniya, Samawah and Nasiriya. A proposal was put forward to turn the railway route into a high-speed rail one, but it was never realised. Under that project it was also planned to connect the city of Najaf to the rail network.[1][2]

Speed

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The line was planned to be high-speed, allowing a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), but operates at an average speed of 60–70 km/h (37.3–43.5 mph) and a top speed of 125 km/h (77.7 mph).[1][3][4][5]

Frequency

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There is one train service per day, taking 8–12 hours, in each direction. The Baghdad to Basra train starts at Baghdad International RS at 8pm and arrives at Basra AlMaqal RS at 4:30 in the morning.[6] In reverse, the Basra to Baghdad train starts at 6 pm and arrives in Baghdad at 6:15 am.

History

[edit]

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]

Rolling stock

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In 2014, IRR received the first of an order of 10 new trains from CRRC Qingdao Sifang. The trainsets consist of two diesel-powered locomotives and eight steel bodied trailers and are specifically built to resist the high temperatures and wind-blown dust of Iraq's desert environment. [7][8]

Prices

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There are four categories of tickets on the line. A 2-Berth Sleeper accommodation costs 37,000 IQD or 28 Dollars. A 4-Berth option for 31,000 IQD or just under 24 USD. Second-class seating tickets in carriages with two rows of two seats each cost 10,000 IQD/8 USD and first class options will cost 15,000 IQD or just above 11 Dollars for a seat in a carriage with two rows, one with one seat and one with two. Tea, kebabs or other snacks can be purchased at the Diner-Carriage.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b c d "Alstom tapped for Iraq HSR talks". Railway Age. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  3. ^ "High-speed Baghdad-Basra rail line complete | Embassy of the Republic of Iraq Public Relations Office".
  4. ^ Arango, Tim (18 October 2014). "A Train Ride Through Time: From Iraq's Checkered Past into an Uncertain Future". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Focus - Approaching terminus? On board Iraq's last train line". 8 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Train travel in Iraq | Baghdad to Basra train".
  7. ^ Barry, Keith (24 March 2014). "After Decades of War, Iraq Adds Fleet of New Trains to Its Aging Railway". Wired. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  8. ^ "New Iraqi inter-city train rolled out".
  9. ^ "Train travel in Iraq | Baghdad to Basra train".
  10. ^ "Taking the train in Iraq: Basra to Baghdad". 16 March 2019.