Railways of Iraq

There are some very interesting comments about Iraqi Republic Railways from Mark Hemphill on the Trains magazine forum, gving an overview of IRR since the invasion, and what has happened since.

The IRR was never destroyed like a Lawrence of Arabia film. It was looted badly, however – the block signal system was wiped out for the copper, all the spare parts and tools were taken, structures were stripped to naked shells sans windows, doors, wire, and plumbing, and in some cases dismantled for the bricks, and a lot of locomotives and wagons were stripped out. In the first few weeks after the war, the Bagdad-Basra-Umm Qasr main stem was restored to operation thanks to the dedication, moxie, and can-do attitude of Lt. Col Bob Pelletier, USA reserve, whose regular job is corridor manager for UP. “Sheik Bob” figured out how to get the IRR people paid, how to get the US Military out of the way, and gave the IRR people the legal umbrella they needed to get back to work. [Mark Hemphill in "Iraq Railroad Status" thread, 2008-02-28]

He points out that Reconstruction work was performed almost 100% by the IRR itself and Iraqi contractors engaged by the U.S. Government, Project & Contracting Office, under the program management and funding disbursed by the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office. There are also details of what is currently running.

IRR railwaymen are as good as railroaders you will find in any country, and better in some aspects.

Here is another informative posting from him.

Not very exciting, but railway-related (I think).

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Providing relief to PSUS namely RITES Ltd. And IRCON International Ltd. – on outstanding due for project executed in Iraq in 1980’s on deferred payment basis

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval for providing the relief against the outstanding dues of RITES Ltd. and IRCON International Ltd. on outstanding dues for projects executed in Iraq in 1980’s on deferred payment basis in the following manner:

(i) RITES and IRCON will be paid the balance amounts as per the approved exchange rate of Rs.47.86 per US$ at which private exporters were paid, to maintain the parity in treatment of all the exporters;

(ii) RITES and IRCON will be paid balance amounts of Rs.117.75 crore and Rs.16.06 crore respectively in cash through additional budget allocation provided by Ministry of Finance to M/o Railways for this purpose and

(iii) RITES and IRCON will be paid interest in cash @ 8.75% per annum effective from 1st October 2001 on Rs.117.75 crore and Rs.16.06 crore respectively till principal and interest both are paid by additional budget allocation in addition to above stated balance amount of Rs.117.75 crore and Rs.16.06 crore.

It would project the creditability of the Government to help exporters: solve liquidity problem of project exporters who have faced unprecedented situation due to their money being held up; increase competitiveness of Indian project exporters to bid in international market; maintain parity in treatment among all the exporters, and facilitate to determine best share value for forthcoming IPOs.

A press release dated 6 March 2008 from Multi-National Force Iraq. There are some more pictures on the DVIDS website.

The Thunder Rolls: Taji Rail Lines Open for First Time Since 2003

CAMP TAJI — The railroad lines of the Taji Qada, north of Baghdad, have laid dormant since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, but as a result of the efforts of Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, the first train let loose a thunderous blast of its horn March. 5, as it slowly rolled through the gates of Camp Taji.

“This particular train … is part of a proof of principle,” said Cpt. James Kerns, a Harrison County, Ky., native, who serves as the assistant operations officer for the Base Defense Operations Command (BDOC), Multi-National Division – Baghdad. “(This mission was executed) to facilitate the Iraqi railroad infrastructure improvement so they can, in the future, utilize the train and rail system to carry goods.”

With a functioning rail system, the Iraqi Security Forces can benefit from the results as well as the people of Iraq.

“It’s an enduring mission. The Iraqi railroads are being put back in, and it’s going to change the face of Taji,” said Maj. Henry McNealy, a Dewey Beach, Del., native, who serves as the operations officer for the BDOC. “It’ll become a consistent train; hopefully, over time, the infrastructure of Iraq will be rebuilt.”

The train is a big piece of getting Iraq back on line, McNealy added.

“Every year, something big usually happens – last year it was getting the oil lines back up – the electric lines running again, and this year it’ll probably be getting the rail going all the way from Mosul to Baghdad – being unimpeded by criminal elements, al-Qaeda in Iraq or special groups,” he explained.

Soldiers of the 2nd Bn., 11th FA Regt., took part in the operation by providing security alongside their Iraqi Army counterparts.

The leg work, as far as conducting, maintaining and navigating the locomotive to Camp Taji, was performed by the Government of Iraq with minimal Coalition assistance, said Kern.

“We’re facilitating the force protection requirements to bring the train in safely,” he explained.

Among the benefits the Government of Iraq is likely to gain, one of the greatest is getting more equipment from place to place without putting Iraqi or Coalition forces on dangerous roads.

“This is going to help out a lot if the train makes it every time. If you have two or three guys in a truck, you’ll have 50 guys driving a bunch of smaller trucks. (With the rail system operational), you’ll have less guys out there on the road and less chances of casualties happening,” said 1st Sgt. Dwalyn Dasher, a Jesup, Ga., native, who serves with Battery A, 2-11 FA Regt. Battery B provided the bulk of the force protection measures at the Camp Taji train yard.

In addition to contributing to military operations throughout the country, a functioning rail system also provides the potential for a larger benefit for the average Iraqi.

“It’ll bring business into the area; it’s going to bring economic goods into the area, and it’s going to allow the Iraqi Army to facilitate and sustain their own operations in the future,” Kern said. “Hopefully, in the not-so-distant future, improve security operations for the Iraqi Army by allowing them to bring military equipment into the area and more sustainment items to Camp Taji and further north into Iraq.”

Despite the short-lived spectacle of watching the green and yellow locomotive slowly roll through the almost-abandoned railroad gate, the bellow of the engine’s horn echoed yet another promising addition to the growing list of successful changes taking place to benefit the future of a free Iraq.

(Story by Sgt. Jerome Bishop, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs)

RZD Partner reports that “Iraq to Сonstruct New Railway”.

08.02.2008 (11:51)
A source at the Iraqi Ministry of Transport said that Iraq has recently executed the initial stage of a strategic project which includes railway line round the city of Baghdad with the length of 284 kilometers, Iraq Directory reported.

The development costs roughly $8 billion, and is expected to be completed in six years, the source further added.

The project will also include areas for goods and modern stores outside the city of Baghdad and will ease the intersection of railways with roads and traffic accidents.

A rail “bypass” running around Baghdad has been proposed in the past.