Iran-Armenia railway viable `only if it transports gold`
Building a railway line between Iran and Armenia
would be economically unfeasible, even if the project is carried
out, an Armenian website quoted a local economist as saying.
"To cover operational costs, gold or even more valuable goods would have to be transported through the railway," said Vaagn Khachaturyan, who represents the opposition Armenian National Congress.
Khachaturyan expressed doubt that the railway project would be implemented. "The project is not economically viable. First of all, the soil to be crossed by the railway in Armenia is very complex."
Khachaturyan added that the Russian company which currently manages Armenia`s railways is not interested in the project becoming a reality, either.
Iranian and Armenian leaders signed an agreement in Tehran on April 14 to build a railway line between the two countries. The railway would be 470 km long, of which 60 km would lie in Iran and 410 km in Armenia. The five-year project is initially estimated at a cost of $1-1.2 billion.
Armenia remains unable to participate in regional projects due to its policy of aggression against Azerbaijan and only has a railway link with Georgia.
"To cover operational costs, gold or even more valuable goods would have to be transported through the railway," said Vaagn Khachaturyan, who represents the opposition Armenian National Congress.
Khachaturyan expressed doubt that the railway project would be implemented. "The project is not economically viable. First of all, the soil to be crossed by the railway in Armenia is very complex."
Khachaturyan added that the Russian company which currently manages Armenia`s railways is not interested in the project becoming a reality, either.
Iranian and Armenian leaders signed an agreement in Tehran on April 14 to build a railway line between the two countries. The railway would be 470 km long, of which 60 km would lie in Iran and 410 km in Armenia. The five-year project is initially estimated at a cost of $1-1.2 billion.
Armenia remains unable to participate in regional projects due to its policy of aggression against Azerbaijan and only has a railway link with Georgia.
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