View source for Trans-Asian Railway

{{Short description|Proposed railway across Europe and Asia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
The '''Trans-Asian Railway''' '''(TAR)''' is a project to create an integrated [[freight railway]] network across [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. The project is of the [[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific]] (UNESCAP).

The project was initiated in the 1950s, with the objective of providing a continuous {{convert|8750|mi}} rail link between [[Singapore]] and [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]], with possible further connections to [[Europe]] and [[Africa]]. At the time shipping and air travel were not as well developed, and the project promised to significantly reduce shipping times and costs between [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. Progress in developing the TAR was hindered by political and economic obstacles throughout the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. By the 1990s, the end of the Cold War and normalisation of relations between some countries improved the prospects for creating a rail network across the Asian continent.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

The TAR was seen as a way to accommodate the huge increases in international trade between Eurasian nations and facilitate the increased movements of goods between countries. It was also seen as a way to improve the economies and accessibility of landlocked countries like [[Laos]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Mongolia]], and the [[Central Asia|Central Asian]] republics.

Much of the railway network already exists as part of the [[Eurasian Land Bridge]], although significant gaps remain.  A big challenge is the differences in rail gauge across Eurasia. Four major [[rail gauge]]s (which measures the distance between rails) are in use across the continent: most of [[Europe]], as well as [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], [[China]], and the Koreas use the {{RailGauge|1435mm}} gauge, known as [[Standard gauge]]; [[Russia]] and the former Soviet republics use a [[5 ft and 1520 mm gauge railways|{{RailGauge|1520mm}} gauge]]; Finland uses a {{RailGauge|1524mm}} gauge, both known as [[Russian gauge]]; the railways in [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]] and [[Sri Lanka]] use the {{RailGauge|1676mm}} gauge, known as [[Indian gauge]]; and most of [[Southeast Asia]] has {{RailGauge|1000mm}} [[Metre-gauge railway|metre gauge]].  For the most part the TAR would not change national gauges; mechanized transfer facilities would be built to [[Transloading|transload]] [[shipping container]]s from train to train at the [[Break-of-gauge|breaks of gauge]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

== Routes ==
By 2001, four corridors had been studied:

* The '''Northern Corridor''' will link [[Europe]] and [[Northeast Asia]] via [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Belarus]], [[Russia]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Mongolia]], [[China]], [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]], with breaks of gauge at the Polish-Belarusian border ({{RailGauge|1435mm|disp=or}} to {{RailGauge|1520mm|disp=or}}), the Kazakhstan-Chinese border and the Mongolian-Chinese border (both {{RailGauge|1520mm|disp=1}} to {{RailGauge|1435mm|disp=1}}).  The {{convert|5750|mi}} [[Trans-Siberian Railway]] covers much of this route and currently carries large amounts of freight from East Asia to [[Moscow]] and on to the rest of [[Europe]]. Due to political problems with North Korea, freight from South Korea must currently be shipped by sea to the port of [[Vladivostok]] to access the route.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

{{anchor | ITI | ITIDKDY | ITI-DKD-Y | Southern Corridor | Southern corridor | South Corridor | South corridor }}
* The '''Southern Corridor''', also called '''ITI-DKD-Y''' ([[Istanbul]]-[[Tehran]]-[[Islamabad]]-[[Delhi]]-[[Kolkata]]-[[Dhaka]]-[[Yangon]]){{Cn|date=November 2022}}, will go from [[Europe]] to [[Southeast Asia]], connecting [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Myanmar]], and [[Thailand]], with links to China's [[Yunnan|Yunnan Province]] and, via the [[Kunming–Singapore railway|Southeast Asian corridor]], to [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]]. Gaps exist between [[Imphal]]-[[Moreh, India|Moreh]] in India and to [[Tamu, Burma|Tamu]]- [[Kalay]] (also called Kale and Kalemyo) in [[Myanmar]], between [[Chittagong]]-[[Cox's Bazar]] in [[Bangladesh]] to Myanmar and between Myanmar and [[Thailand]]. The section in eastern [[Iran]] between Bam and [[Zahedan]] has been completed. Breaks of gauge occur, or will occur, at the Iran-Pakistan border ({{RailGauge|1435mm|disp=or}} to {{RailGauge|1676mm|disp=or}}), the India-Myanmar border ({{RailGauge|1676mm|disp=1}} to {{RailGauge|1000mm|disp=or}}), and to China ({{RailGauge|1000mm|disp=1}} to {{RailGauge|1435mm|disp=1}}).<ref name=tarr1>[https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/columnists/trans-asian-rail-connectivity--south-asian-perspective.html Trans-Asian rail connectivity: South Asian perspective], Daily Pioneer, 14 September 2021.</ref>

[[File:Kunming-Singapore.png|thumb|right|Connections in Southeast Asia, built (black), projected (yellow) and yet to open (red).]]
* A '''Southeast Asian network'''; this primarily consists of the [[Kunming–Singapore Railway]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

* The '''[[North-South Transport Corridor|North-South Corridor]]''' will link Northern [[Europe]] to the [[Persian Gulf]]. The main route starts in [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]], and continues through [[Russia]] to the [[Caspian Sea]], where it splits into three routes: a western route through [[Azerbaijan]], [[Armenia]], and western [[Iran]]; a central route across the Caspian Sea to [[Iran]] via [[rail ferry]]; and an eastern route through [[Kazakhstan]], [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Turkmenistan]] to eastern Iran. The routes converge in the Iran's capital of [[Tehran]] and continue to the Iranian port of [[Bandar Abbas]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

== Agreement ==

The '''Trans-Asian Railway Network Agreement''' is an agreement signed on 10 November 2006,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100002337 |url-access= |title=Trans-Asian Railway Network (TAR) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=12 January 2025 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= |trans-quote= }}</ref> by seventeen Asian nations as part of a [[United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific]] (UNESCAP) effort to build a [[transcontinental railway]] network between Europe and Pacific ports in China.<ref name="VietNamNet">{{cite news| url=http://english.vietnamnet.vn/international/2006/11/633012/| title=Countries sign agreement on Trans-Asian railway plan| publisher=VietNamNet| date=11 November 2006| access-date=15 November 2006| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202093500/http://english.vietnamnet.vn/international/2006/11/633012/| archive-date=2 February 2008}}</ref> The plan has sometimes been called the '''"Iron Silk Road"''' in reference to the historical [[Silk Road]] trade routes.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/10/iron_silk_road_un_treaty.html| title='Iron Silk Road' UN Treaty| publisher=UNESCAP (reprinted by National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers [RMT] Bristol Rail Branch)| date=6 October 2006| access-date=15 November 2006}}</ref> UNESCAP's Transport & Tourism Division began work on the initiative in 1992 when it launched the Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development project.<ref name="UNESCAP 2005">{{cite web| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/trans-asian-railway-network-nears-agreement.html | title=Trans-Asian Railway network nears agreement| publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]]| date=1 November 2005| access-date=15 November 2006| author=Chartier, Pierre, UNESCAP}}</ref>

The agreement formally came into force on 11 June 2009.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//trans-asian-railway-network-agreement-comes-into-force.html | title=Trans-Asian Railway Network Agreement comes into force | publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]]| date=11 June 2009}}</ref>

=== Network ===
The Trans-Asian Railway system will consist of four main railway routes. The existing [[Trans-Siberian Railway]], which connects Moscow to [[Vladivostok]], will be used for a portion of the network in Russia.{{cn|date=May 2023}} Another corridor to be included will connect China to Korea, Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.interfax.cn/displayarticle.asp?aid=18616&slug=RAILROAD| title=Trans-Asian rail network agreement to be signed on Nov&nbsp;10| publisher=Interfax China| date=7 November 2006| access-date=15 November 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928021235/http://www.interfax.cn/displayarticle.asp?aid=18616&slug=RAILROAD <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 September 2007}}</ref> In 2003, the president of Kazakhstan proposed building a standard gauge link from [[Dostyk]] (on the Chinese border) to [[Gorgan]] in [[Iran]]; it has not yet been built.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/trans-kazakhstan-link-will-complete-standard-gauge-transcontinental-artery.html | title=Trans-Kazakhstan link will complete standard-gauge transcontinental artery | publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]] |author=Kanat K Zhangaskin | date=1 August 2004}}</ref>

==== Standards ====
[[File:World RR Gauge Map.agr.png|thumb|upright=1.3|Map of the world's railways showing the different gauges in use.
{{legend|#a100ff|[[3 ft gauge railways|3 ft gauge]] (914 mm)}}
{{legend|#6000ff|[[Meter gauge]] (1,000 mm)}}
{{legend|#0500e0|[[3 ft 6 in gauge railways|Cape gauge]] (1,067 mm)}}
{{legend|#000000|[[Standard gauge]] (1,435 mm)}}
{{legend|#c00100|[[Russian gauge]] (1,520 mm)}}
{{space|4}}{{Legend inline|#ff0100|[[Five foot gauge]] (1,524 mm)}}
{{legend|#ffa000|[[Irish gauge]] (1,600 mm)}}
{{legend|#ffc000|[[Iberian gauge]] (1,668 mm)}}
{{legend|#ffe000|[[Indian gauge]] (1,676 mm)}}]]
Complicating the plan is the differences in [[rail gauge]]s currently in use across the continent. While China, Iran, Laos and Turkey use {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} [[rail tracks|tracks]], tracks of Russia and Central Asia are gauged at {{RailGauge|1520mm|lk=on}}. In South Asia, India's and Pakistan's tracks are gauged at {{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}}. In South East Asia, the tracks of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia are {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} with some [[dual gauge]] tracks near the China–Vietnam border and within Bangladesh, and tracks in Indonesia and Japan are mostly {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}} gauge.<ref name="UNESCAP 2005" /> This leads to time-consuming [[Bogie exchange|interchanges]] or [[transloading]] to handle the [[break of gauge]] at main connecting points in the network.

Other standards to consider include allowing for [[Interoperability#Railways|interoperability]]:
* [[Railway electrification]] – [[25 kV AC railway electrification|25 kV AC]] the world standard for new long distance and heavy duty construction since the 1950s.
* [[Coupler (railway)|Couplings]] – [[Buffer and chain coupler|buffers and chains]], [[Janney coupler|Alliance]], or [[SA3 coupler|SA3]]. Some [[Dual coupling|dual couplings and adapters]]<ref>[https://patents.google.com/patent/US4102459 Adapter piece]</ref> or [[barrier vehicle]]s are possible.
* [[Brake (railway)|Brakes]] – [[Railway air brake|air]], with or without [[electronically controlled pneumatic brakes]] (ECP).
* [[Loading gauge]] and [[structure gauge]] – able to take tallest possible [[Intermodal container|shipping container]].  Possible [[Double-stack rail transport|double stacking]].
* [[Railway signalling|Signalling systems]] – where signals are electronic, not physically visible, and must be 'read' by equipment in the locomotives, or where the train must interact in different ways with the infrastructure
* [[Electromagnetic interference]] – where radio waves (noise) from electric motors can interact with different signalling systems
* Rules and regulations.
* Language, including [[Seaspeak]].
* [[Break of gauge]] devices, such as [[dual gauge]], [[Train on Train]] [[Piggyback (transportation)#Rail|piggybacking]] or [[Variable gauge|variable gauge axles]].

=== Participating nations ===
Transportation and railway ministers from forty one nations participated in the week-long conference<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/content.php?nid=6175| title=Nepal signs deal to build trans-Asian railway network| publisher=The Rising Nepal| date=13 November 2006| access-date=15 November 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928102648/http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/content.php?nid=6175 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 September 2007}}</ref> held in [[Busan]], [[South Korea]], where the agreement was formulated. The proposed 80,900-km railway network will originate from the Pacific seaboard of [[Asia]] and end on the doorsteps of [[Europe]]. The agreement's cosigners included the following participating countries:<ref name="VietNamNet" />

{{div col|colwidth=13em}}
* {{flag|Afghanistan}}
* {{flag|Armenia}}
* {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
* {{flag|Bangladesh}}
* {{flag|Belarus}}
* {{flag|Bhutan}}
* {{flag|Brunei}}
* {{flag|Cambodia}}
* {{flag|China}}
* {{flag|India}}
* {{flag|Indonesia}}
* {{flag|Iran}}
* {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
* {{flag|Laos}}
* {{flag|Mongolia}}
* {{flag|Nepal}}
* {{flag|Pakistan}}
* {{flag|South Korea}}
* {{flag|Russia}}
* {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
* {{flag|Tajikistan}}
* {{flag|Thailand}}
* {{flag|Turkey}}
* {{flag|Turkmenistan}} 
* {{flag|Uzbekistan}}
{{div col end}}

The 28 countries that did not sign the agreement at the conference had until 31 December 2007, to join and ratify the agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/11/transasia_railw.html|title=TRANS-ASIA RAILWAY NETWORK AGREEMENT: Dhaka fails to sign deal for lack of cabinet approval|publisher=World Prout Assembly|date=7 November 2006|access-date=15 November 2006| url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070927014437/http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/11/transasia_railw.html|archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

On 5 May 2007, officials in [[Bangladesh]] announced that the nation will sign on to the agreement at an upcoming meeting in [[New York City]].  The plan for the network includes three lines between [[India]] and [[Myanmar]] that traverse [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007259926|title=Bangladesh To Join 8,750-Mile Trans-Asian Railway Network|date=6 May 2007|access-date=7 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103334/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007259926|archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> India made a similar announcement on 17 May 2007. As part of the agreement, [[India]] will build and rehabilitate rail links with neighboring [[Myanmar]] in projects that are estimated to cost more than {{Indian Rupee}} 29.41&nbsp;billion (US$730&nbsp;million).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/63564.html| title=India to join the Trans-Asian railway network|date=17 May 2007|access-date=17 May 2007}}</ref> [[Bangladesh]] finally signed the agreement on 10 November 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/10/content_7047917.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112065129/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/10/content_7047917.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 November 2007| title=Bangladesh joins Trans-Asian Railway Network Agreement|date=10 November 2007| access-date=12 November 2007}}</ref>

[[Look East policy (India)|India's Look-East connectivity]] policy has resulted in the launch of several connectivity projects with China and [[ASEAN]] nations.

== Progress ==
The Northern Corridor was in operation as early as the 1960s, although at first only for [[Soviet Union-China trade]]. The Southern corridor has progressively opened up after 2000. Successes so far include:

=== Northern Line ===
* Rail link from China to Kazakhstan ([[Turkestan–Siberia Railway]] and [[Lanxin railway]], with break-of-gauge) has been completed since 1990, allowing cargo services such as [[Yiwu–London railway line|Yiwu–London]] and [[Chongqing–Xinjiang–Europe Railway|Chongqing–Xinjiang–Europe]] lines
* Second link from China to Kazakhstan (line [[Zhetigen]]–[[Khorgos]], completed in December 2011).
* Direct freight service between Germany and China through Russia and Mongolia or Kazakhstan, operating from the first decade of the 2000s (transloading of container at break-of-gauge).

=== Southern Line ===
* The Eurasia [[Marmaray Tunnel]] connecting European Turkey and Asian Turkey, opened in 2013. At that time the tunnel was isolated from rail network but finally got connected with the completion of [[Marmaray project]] in 2019. The first international freight train transporting [[magnesite]] and connecting Çukurhisar (in [[Tepebaşı, Eskişehir]]) to [[Austria]] ran through the tunnel last week of October 2019. Before this, there was a freight-train ferry there.
* A [[train ferry]] across [[Lake Van]], from 1970s allowing rail services between Turkey and Iran.
* Link from Iran to Central Asia ([[Trans-Caspian railway]]; branch [[Tejen]]–[[Sarakhs]]–[[Mashhad]], completed in 1996).
* Link from Iran to [[Herat]] in [[Afghanistan]] completed 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/afghanistan-iran-complete-first-trial-run-of-khaf-herat-railway/ | title=Afghanistan-Iran Complete First Trial Run of Khaf-Herat Railway }}</ref>
* Iran-Pakistan: A [[Bam, Iran|Bam]]–[[Zahedan]] link, with a [[break-of-gauge]] at [[Zahedan]] (Pakistan railway uses broad gauge {{RailGauge|1676mm}} and Iran railway uses standard gauge {{RailGauge|1435mm}}). In August 2009 a goods train carrying containers traveled from [[Islamabad]], [[Pakistan]] to [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]]; by April 2011, trains were running regularly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/connecting-china-and-europe.html|access-date=17 May 2011|title=Connecting China and Europe | publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]]| date=25 April 2011}}</ref>
* In 2016, Bangladesh decided to connect to the network with a rail line from [[Dohazari]] to [[Gundum]] near Myanmar border.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-21 |title=Bangladesh-Myanmar rail connectivity |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/editorial/bangladesh-myanmar-rail-connectivity-1211932 |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

=== [[Kunming–Singapore railway|Southeast Asia]] ===
* The [[Boten–Vientiane railway]] opened in December 2021, completing the Central section of the line and forming a near through-train connection from [[Kunming]] to [[Singapore]] (with a break-of-gauge in [[Vientiane railway station|Vientiane]]).

=== [[North–South Transport Corridor]] ===
* Agreement in 2023 between Iran and Russia on completing the [[North–South Transport Corridor|north–south corridor]].<ref>[https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/rasht-astara-railway-construction-agreement-signed/64239.article Rasht – Astara railway construction agreement signed]</ref> The missing link is [[Astara–Rasht–Qazvin railway|Astara–Rasht]], a distance of 162&nbsp;km.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Railways|Asia}}
* [[TransAfricaRail]]
* [[African Union of Railways]]
* [[Asian Highway Network]]
* [[Bandhan Express]]
* [[Cosmopolitan Railway]]
* [[Greater East Asia Railroad]]
* [[Intercontinental and transoceanic fixed links]]
* [[International Union of Railways]]
* [[Japan–Korea Undersea Tunnel]]
*[[Gyeongui Line]]
* [[Košice–Vienna broad-gauge line]]
* [[Maitree Express]]
* [[Northern East West Freight Corridor]]
* [[One Belt, One Road]]
* [[Transcontinental railroad]]
* [[Transmountain railroad]]
* [[International North-South Transport Corridor]]
* [[Middle Corridor]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|35em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.unescap.org/our-work/transport/trans-asian-railway The Trans-Asian Railway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020233450/http://www.unescap.org/our-work/transport/trans-asian-railway |date=20 October 2020 }}
* [http://streamlinesupplychain.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/trans-asian-railways-tar/ streamlinesupplychain]
* [https://sites.google.com/site/cirailway/home Rail links between India and China]
* [http://www.nomadicnotes.com/travel-blog/southeast-asia-rail-map/ Future Southeast Asia – A map of proposed railways in Southeast Asia]
* [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4102459 Adapter piece]
{{Eurasian Land Bridge}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Asia]]
[[Category:International railway lines in Europe]]
[[Category:International railway lines in Asia]]
[[Category:Proposed transport infrastructure in Asia]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trans-Asian railway}}