Iraqi Republic Railways

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File:Baghdad Train Station 1959.jpg
Baghdad Central Station.

Iraqi Republic Railways Company (IRR; Template:Langx) is the national railway operator in Iraq.

Network

IRR comprises Script error: No such module "convert". of Template:RailGauge. IRR has one international interchange, with Chemins de Fer Syriens (CFS) at Rabiya. The system runs from Rabiya southward through Mosul, Baiji, and Baghdad to Basra, with a branch line from Shouaiba Junction (near Basra) to the ports of Khor Az Zubair and Umm Qasr, westward from Baghdad through Ramadi and Haqlaniya to Al Qaim and Husayba, with a branch line from Al Qaim to Akashat, and east–west from Haqlaniya through Bayji to Kirkuk.

Routes

File:IRR Network Map Only Diagram.svg
A diagram of the Iraqi Republic Railways

IRR Southern Line

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The IRR Southern Line, also known as the Baghdad–Basra Railway Line, is the only fully operational rail route in Iraq. It stretches 550 kilometres to Basra Al Maqal railway station and has a branch line to Karbala and another one from Shoeyba Junction to Um Qasr.

IRR Northern Line

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The IRR Northern Line connects the capital of Baghdad with the northern city of Mosul and then to the international interchange at Rabiyaa. The line is currently in reconstruction. A daily commuter train currently connects Baghdad and Samarra, with an extra train on Fridays for pilgrims.

IRR Western Line

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Line connects Baghdad to the phosphate mining village of Akashat. Between 2009 and 2024 the only section in use was the 65-kilometre-long section from Baghdad to Falluja. On October 8, 2024, the connection to the rest of the line finished reconstruction. On October 11, 2024, the first Train departed Ramadi for Baghdad after a fifteen-year hiatus.

IRR Transversal Line

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". This rail line connects Haditha with the intersection to the IRR Western, over Baiji, where it connects to the IRR Northern, to Kirkuk in the north-east of Iraq. It is the only major route to not run to Baghdad. Currently, only the Baiji-Field-Branch is currently in use for freight service.

Abandoned routes

IRR Eastern Line

Template:Main article The IRR Eastern Line was the last metre-gauge railway in Iraq connecting Baghdad, Baquba and Kirkuk with Erbil. It closed from 1984 to 1988. It also featured a branch from Jalawla Junction to Khanaqin.

Other narrow-gauge railways

Template:Main article Multiple narrow-gauge railways were built in Iraq during the First World War and British Mandate times. They were mostly constructed for warfare and logistics with portable track due to resource constraints. Some temporary routes later became the foundation for other railways, like the IRR Eastern. Some war time routes include:

1.Qurna-Amara - 762mm-gauge (Script error: No such module "convert".)

2.Basra-Nasiriya - metre-gauge (Script error: No such module "convert".)

3.Sheikh Saad-Sinn - 762mm-gauge (Script error: No such module "convert".)

4.Baghdad-Radhwaniya 600mm-gauge

5.Baghdad-Mufraz 600mm-gauge

6.Baghdad-Table Mountain 762mm-gauge (Script error: No such module "convert".)

History

File:Iraqi State Railways poster, c. 1936.png
Advert from the 1930s
File:"Nordmenn + tyrkere på stoppested (Taurus)" - DEX FB 0033.jpg
Germans, Norwegians, French-Syrian colonial officials and others at the train station in Tell Kotchek, 1940.

The first section of railway in what was then the Ottoman Empire province of Mesopotamia was a Script error: No such module "convert". length of the Baghdad Railway between that city & Samarra opened in 1914. Work had started northwards from Baghdad with the aim of meeting the section being constructed across Turkey and Syria to Tel Kotchek and an extension northwards from Samarra to Baiji was opened in December 1918.[1]

From 1916 onwards an invading British Military force brought narrow gauge equipment, firstly Template:RailGauge gauge and later Template:RailGauge gauge from India to Southern Mesopotamia to construct various sections of line to support its offensive against the Turks. Britain defeated the Ottomans and Mesopotamia became a League of Nations mandate under British administration. In April 1920 the British military authorities transferred all railways to a British civilian administration, Mesopotamian Railways.[2]

The metre gauge line from Basra to Nasiriyah was the most important section constructed during the war in terms of its significance as part of later efforts to construct a national railway network. Soon after the end of World War I this was extended northwards from Ur Junction outside Nasiriyah up the Euphrates valley with the complete Basra to Baghdad route being opened on 16 January 1920.[3]

The other section of metre gauge line built during World War I that had ongoing significance was that from Baghdad East north eastwards to the Persian border. After the war the eastern end of this line was diverted to Khanaqin and the wartime built line north west from Jalula Junction was extended from Kingerban to Kirkuk in 1925.[3]

In 1932 Iraq became independent from the UK. In March 1936 the UK sold Mesopotamian Railways to Iraq, which renamed the company Iraqi State Railways.[2] Work resumed on the extension of the Baghdad Railway between Tel Kotchek on the Syrian frontier and Baiji. The through route was opened and completed on 15 July 1940.[2] In 1941 the Iraqi State Railways PC class 4-6-2 steam locomotives were introduced to haul the Baghdad–Istanbul Taurus Express on the Baghdad Railway between Baghdad and Tel Kotchek.[4] From 1941 onwards the UK War Department supplemented ISR's locomotive fleets: the metre gauge with HG class 4-6-0s requisitioned from India[5] and new USATC S118 Class 2-8-2s from the US,[6] and the standard gauge with new LMS Stanier Class 8F 2-8-0s[7] and USATC S100 Class 0-6-0Ts.[8]

File:Iq-map-pol96.jpg
Principal railway routes in Iraq

In 1947 the Iraq Petroleum Company opened a branch at Kirkuk, which it operated with its own Hudswell Clarke 2-8-4Ts from 1951.[9][10] ISR opened a new metre gauge line from Kirkuk to Arbil in 1949. A joint road and rail bridge was opened across the River Tigris in Baghdad in 1950, finally connecting the east and west bank metre gauge systems.[2] ISR added new steam locomotives in the 1950s: 20[11] metre gauge 2-8-2s from Ferrostaal of Essen and 10[12] from Vulcan Foundry[13] in 1953 and 20 more[14] from Maschinenfabrik Esslingen[15] in 1955-56 and 2-8-0s from Krupp, plus standard gauge 2-8-0s also from Krupp.[16][17]

In 1958 when Iraq's Hashemite monarchy was overthrown and a republic declared, ISR was renamed Iraqi Republic Railways.[2] In 1961 IRR began to replace its standard gauge steam locomotive fleet with diesels from ČKD[18][19][20] and Alco.[21][22] In 1972 several classes of steam locomotive were still in service on the standard gauge system,[23][24] but these were replaced by further classes of diesel from Alstom, Montreal Locomotive Works and MACOSA.[22] IRR did not begin to replace its metre gauge steam locomotives until after 1983.[2][25]

In 1964 IRR extended its standard gauge network with a line from Baghdad to Basrah which opened for freight in 1964 and for passengers in 1968. It has since been extended from Shouaiba Junction to the port of Umm Qasr.[2]

From 1980 until 2003 IRR suffered approximately one billion United States dollars' worth of war and looting damage.[26]

Rolling stock

In 1936, the Iraqi State Railways owned 114 locomotives, 8 railcars, 320 coaches and 3,485 goods wagons.[27]

Current (information partly from 2004)

Class Image Axle formula Number Year in service Power
[hp] 		Constructor Notes
DHS 101–103BB Bo-Bo 3 1986 600 Nippon Sharyo Not in service anymore[28]
DHS 111–113BB Bo-Bo 3 1973 600 Nippon Sharyo Not in service anymore[28]
DHS 121–127BB Bo-Bo 7 1982 600 Nippon Sharyo Not in service anymore[28]
DHS 131–144 Bo-Bo 14 2002–2003 1,000 Tülomsas 8 in service in 2004[28]
DHS 151–162 File:Iraqi Railroad locomotive.jpg Bo-Bo 12 2004–2005 1,200 Tülomsas
DEM 2001–2010 Co-Co 10 1963 1,650 ČKD 5657–5766. Not in service anymore[28]
DEM 2011–2020 Co-Co 10 1964 1,650 ČKD 5802–5811. Not in service anymore[28]
DEM 2101–2105 Co-Co 5 1965 2,000 Alco 3416.01–3416.05. Not in service anymore[28]
DEM 2201–2220 Co-Co 20 1971 2,000 Alstom Not in service anymore[28]
DEM 2301–2330 Co-Co 30 1975 2,000 Montreal Locomotive Works 6083.01–6083.30. Not in service anymore[28]
DEM 2331–2361 Co-Co 30 1976 2,000 Montreal Locomotive Works 6093.01–6093.31. Not in service anymore[28]
DEM 2401–2455 File:Locomotive in downtown Baghdad, Iraq.JPEG Co-Co 55 1980 2,000 Macosa 1631–1685. Some possibly still in service[28]
DEM 2501–2582 Co-Co 82 1983 2,250 Henschel & Son 32711–32720, 32639–32710. Seen in service in 2007. 2559–2561 were formerly dedicated to Saddam Hussein's private passenger train.[28]
DEM 2701–2750 File:Iraq; diesel locomotive DEM2716.jpg Bo-Bo 50 2001 2,000 Dalian In service[28]
DEM 2801–2830 File:محطة القطار العالمية.jpg Co-Co 30 2004 2,630 Lugansk (LuganskTeplovoz) Some possibly still in service[28]
DES 3001–3036 Bo-Bo 36 1962–1973 650 ČKD [28]
DES 3101–3200 File:IRR dieselelectric locomotive.jpg Co-Co 100 1979–1981 1,100 ČKD 11301–11303, 12204–12211, 12272–12360[28]
DES 3301–3306 Bo-Bo 6 2004 1,200 Bryansk [28]
DEM 4001-11 Co-Co 11 1980 3,600 Francorail [28]
DEM 4101-61 Co-Co 6 1980–1982 3,600 Francorail [28]
File:Basra train.jpg DMU 10 2014 3,600 CSR 160 km/h. 10-car long-distance train has two power cars and accommodates up to 343 passengers intended for Baghdad–Basra on the Bagdad–Basra train.
* DHS = Diesel-hydraulic, DEM = Diesel-electric

Retired

Class Image Axle Formula Number Year in Service Constructor Notes
HJ Class 4-6-0 203 1902 Originally built for Bengal and North Western Railway. Exported to Iraq in Second World War.[29]
HG Class 4-6-0 1907 Robert Stephenson & Company One seen as 132 in 1967. Originally built for Burma Railways. Exported to Iraq later.[29]
HG Class 4-6-0 1920 Nasmyth Wilson One seen as 179 in 1967. Originally built for South Indian Railway Company. Exported to Iraq later.[29]
HG Class 4-6-0 192 North British One seen as 193 in 1967. Originally built for South Indian Railway Company. Exported to Iraq later.[29]
HGS Class 4-6-0 1921 Vulcan Foundry One seen as 149 in 1967. Exported to Iraq later.[29]
NA Class 4-8-0 226 1920 North British Originally built for Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway. Exported to Iraq in Second World War.[29]
? File:المبنى الخارجي لمحطة القطار العالمية.jpg 0-6-0 ? 1912 Borsig One photographed in 1967 on display at Baghdad West Railway station.[29]
? 0-4-0VBT ? 1928 Sentinel Two photographed in 1967 as RM2/RM3.[29]
PC class File:The British Army in the Middle East 1943 E25833.jpg 4-6-2 4 1941 Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns Nos. 501-504. Built in 1940. 504 lost during transport to Iraq. Out of service in 1967.
TD Class File:Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48479.jpg 2-8-0 12 1942 North British 143 Sent to Iran after 1941 Anglo-Soviet invasion. Ten were purchased by I.R.R. in 1947, two in 1948. Operated until the seventies. 1 Currently possible disused - abandoned in field near IRR Script error: No such module "Coordinates".. Series around 1400. War Department 70746> 1402
SA Class File:S100Design.png 0-6-0 5 1942-'44 Davenport Nos. 1211–1215. In 1967 at least two active. According to some they were used by Palestine Military Railway first. P.M.R. 106 > 423, 165 > 425, 404 > 429, 406 > 430, 434 > 431, 437 > 432, 512 > 438.[30]
V Class 0-4-0T 1910 Borsig One seen as 208 in 1967 on display in Shalchiyah.
W Class 2-8-2 1943 Alco One seen as 63 in 1967.
2-8-4T 3 1951 Hudswell Clarke Nos. 1–3.
Y Class 2-8-2 10 1953 Vulcan Foundry One seen as 80 in 1967
Z Class 2-8-2 1956 Esslingen One seen as 96.

Couplings

IRR uses Soviet-style SA3 couplers. In order to allow interchange with CFS and Turkish State Railways which both use screw couplers, IRR locomotives and most wagons are equipped with screw couplers and buffers. In Iraqi service the buffers do not make contact and the screw couplings hang down unattached.

Developments

Iraq–Syria Direct Railway Link

In October 2011 the English version of Al-Arabiya News reported that a link between Syria and Iraq near the city of Al-Bukamal would begin operations in 2012.[31] However, the link has not been opened, and though plans for a connecting link between the two countries have been floated for a long time, currently the link is only a plan.[32][33] This route would be more direct than the existing one via the border station at Tall Kushik.

Iraq–Jordan Direct Railway Link

In August 2011, the Jordanian government approved the construction of the railway from Aqaba to the Iraqi border (near Trebil). The Iraqis in the meantime started the construction of the line from the border to their current railhead at Ramadi.[34]

High-speed Baghdad–Basra line

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In 2011, a Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". line between Baghdad and Basra was planned, with the Iraqi Railways and Alstom designing the route.[35]

It started operations since 2014, and at that time not classified as a true high-speed rail. New trainsets for use on the Baghdad-Basra route were unveiled in China in February 2014 before being shipped to Iraq.[36]

Iraq–Iran Basra–Shalamcheh line

In December 2021, Iran and Iraq agreed today to build a railway connecting both countries. The project would connect Basra in southern Iraq to Shalamcheh in western Iran. There are only around 30 kilometers (18 miles) between the two areas. The railway would be strategically important for Iran, linking the country to the Mediterranean Sea via Iraq and Syria's railways.[37][38]

Rail links to adjacent countries

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Hughes (1981) p. 87
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Hughes (1981) p. 90
  3. ↑ a b Hughes (1981) p. 89
  4. ↑ Hughes (1981) p. 98
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ http://www.enuii.org/vulcan_foundry/photographs/locomotives/Publicity/Iraqi%20State%20Railways.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ a b Hughes (1981) p. 97
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (March 2005), I.R.R. Diesel loco stocklist. Series 18 issue 68
  29. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ HaRakevet: Rothschild PhD, Rabbi Walter (September 1989), Palestine Military Railways Ex-LSWR 0-6-0's Series 2 issue 5
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Construction begins on 500km Jordan-Iraq railway, Construction Week, 24 August 2011
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Sources

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External links

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  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1"., general information
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1"., map of railway routes in Iraq
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  • Iraq Railways Photos on YouTube
  • Basic technical specifications of Iraqi standard and metre gauge steam locomotives
  • Map of Iraq railways in 2009 drawn by Joseph Redford
  • Taurus Express—information on passenger trains in Turkey and Iraq from Werner and Hans Soelch's Trains-WorldExpresses site
  • Taurus Express 1972—photos from a trip through Turkey and Iraq in 1972
  • [1] Louis Culshaw's photos of MG steam in 1982

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