Railways of Iraq

This dates from 15 July 2005 . Did anyone go?

At the request of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and Railway Supply Institute Inc. will conduct a briefing July 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Washington, D.C., to inform U.S. rail industry suppliers about business opportunities associated with rebuilding Iraq’s railway.

Speakers include Joel Szabat, transportation counselor at the U.S. Embassy’s Iraq Reconstruction Management Office in Baghdad, who serves as lead advisor to the Iraqi minister of transportation; and Jay Brandes, director of the commerce department’s Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force. Szabat will discuss the reconstruction of Iraq’s railway; Brandes will talk about Commerce Department services available to U.S. companies doing business in Iraq and current funding sources.

Al Jazeera reports Iraqi oil tanker train blown up
Fighters have blown up an oil train in Baghdad … Thursday’s hit on the train carrying petroleum products was the first such attack in Iraq, railway spokesman Jawad al-Kharsan said. The explosion ignited a massive blaze extending down the railway line in southern Baghdad and killed an Iraqi soldier. Four others, including a civilian, were injured in the blast. The five-man train crew, however, escaped unhurt, railway officials said.

Mark W Hemphill writes from Baghdad: “Francorail 4141 has returned to service. Possibly one more Francorail will return to service. Both are to be assigned to Al Qa’im to move phosphate rock from Akashat to Al Qa’aim, and limestone rock from Waha to Al Qa’im. Service to Al Qa’im resumed in June. The entire Western Corridor (Baghdad-Al Qa’im-Akashat, Bayji-Haqlaniya) has not had a train movement since October 2003.”