Railways of Iraq

Two photographs by Matt Fallon showing Iraqi Republic Railways locomotives in action at Al Malqal, the port at Basra.

DEM2817 is one of 30 locomotives supplied by Ukraine’s Lugansk Locomotive Works. The shunter is from Turkish firm Tülomsas.

IRR locomotive DEM2817 at Al Malqal, Basra (Photo: Matt Fallon).

IRR shunting locomotive at Al Malqal, Basra (Photo: Matt Fallon).

The Times had a couple of articles about passenger services in Iraq last week.

One is Iraq’s struggle to get railway back on track after neglect and war (14 April 2009). It seems the Baghdad - Dora commuter service is somewhat unsuccessful, but “Against the odds, the minister has reopened a nightly passenger route between Baghdad and Basra. A train also runs every Friday to Samarra, a holy city to the north of the capital, carrying pilgrims to its golden-domed shrine. Last month a weekly service resumed between Baghdad and Fallujah.”

In Taken for a ride in Baghdad… (13 April 2009) the newspaper’s Baghdad Correspondent, Deborah Haynes, decribes how the Ministry of Transport organised a press trip on the commuter train … but something wasn’t quite right about it.

The Washington Post of 1 April 2009 has a feature by Anthony Shadid who rode the tran from Baghdad to Basra.

A Journey Into the Iraq of Recollection

Two clock towers stand like sentinels on each side of a turquoise dome built half a century ago. Musty ticket counters advertise lines that no longer run: to Mosul, to Husaybah, and across the border, to Syria and Turkey. Flickering chandeliers illuminate distinctions — Couchette Class, Tourist Class — that no longer matter.

There are some photos of the train interiors.

The Financial Times also had a version of the same article, Iraqis back on track to a normal life. At 6.25pm, the horn blows and home-bound workers and students throw their jackets, shoulder bags and tightly rolled carpets on the rack overhead. They settle into frayed green leather seats – their murmur like that of an audience before a play.

An 11 February press release from Multi-National Force Iraq has a few details of the train.

The locomotive is DHL160 (I think!), one of 12 Type DH12000 diesel-hydraulic Bo-Bo locos supplied by Tülomsas of Turkey in late 2004 and early 2005.

Iraqi Railroad rolls back into Taji

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Iraqi national distribution capability took a big step forward Tuesday as the Iraqi Railroad successfully picked up cargo from Iraqi Transportation Network trucks at Camp Taji and moved it to the Port of Umm Qasr.

The rail spur at Taji opened for cargo movement for the first time since 2004. A 20-car IRR train owned and operated by the Government of Iraq picked up 40 empty containers for movement to the port of Umm Qasr. The operation was an important step in an effort to linking Iraqi trucking, Iraqi rail, and Iraqi port operations.

One Iraqi with a critical role in the day’s event stated the operation was a sign of Iraq’s rebuilding effort. “It’s our country and we want to serve our country. Whatever it takes to do, we’ll do it. So we came here to serve our country; rebuild it,” Mohammed, the train’s conductor said through an interpreter.

The IRR is a key piece of transportation infrastructure for Iraq according to Maj. Scott D. Meyer, Strategic Mobility – IRR Program Officer, Multi-National Force-Iraq. Meyer said that Iraq has a geographic advantage to turn it into a hub for moving cargo from the port at Umm Qasr to Turkey, Syria and Jordan. The rail lines themselves are in good repair and Iraq has experienced operators for running the trains, Meyer added.

Meyer said that the IRR and Iraqi Transportation Network, a consortium of all Iraqi owned trucking companies, are working together to move cargo efficiently. Where the ITN is responsible for short-haul of cargo and the IRR is responsible for long-haul.

“Trucks are more efficient with short-haul and trains are more efficient with the long haul,” Meyer said. As part of the Tuesday’s rail operation, ITN trucks delivered the 40 containers eventually uploaded on IRR rail cars.

In addition to demonstrating transportation infrastructure progress, these initial small rail movements will eventually prove the IRR is ready for regular transportation of cargo added Meyer. He stated as the IRR moves more and more cargo for both the Iraqis and Coalition forces it offers the option to move Iraqi transporters and Coalition forces off Iraq’s roads.

Upon arrival in Umm Qasr, the IRR will load cargo and move it back through Iraq.

Sustainers and transportation experts from the 10th Sustainment Brigade provided partnership and planning for the Tuesday’s operation. Maj. Peter P. Vien, Brigade Engineer, 10th Sust. Bde. said that coordination involved all echelons of command starting at MNF-I, through the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), the 10th Sust. Bde.’s higher command.

“I think it was very successful, because this will be the first time we had the Iraqis come into Taji and pick-up stuff and move it out, Vien said.

Source: Multi-National Force Iraq, release 20090211-05

A 14 February 2009 release about rail services to Camp Taji, by Sgt. Mike Brantley of the 10th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office.

Railroad Operations Come Back to Camp Taji

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The rusted steel railroad tracks lay in wait. Two concrete barriers that had stood in front of a black metal gate for more than five years sat off to the right as security forces opened the gate leading to Main Supply Route Tampa and to the first train to enter Camp Taji since 2004.

A rail master summoned the oncoming train, both arms raised. The train began slowly moving across Tampa and forward through the gate and onto post.

Once the engine, pulling 20 empty railroad cars, entered the post, the gates were secured and the barriers replaced, thus beginning railroad operations here again.

Maj. Scott Meyer, Strategic Mobility – Iraqi Railroad, or IRR, Program Manager with the Multi-National Force – Iraq, said this was the first time in five years that empty containers were loaded for coalition forces on the Iraqi Public Railroad.

“This will continue the circle of commodities flowing into Iraq,” the Naugatuck, Conn., native said, referring to the train’s two-day trek to the port city of Umm Qasr on the Persian Gulf. “The proof of principle shows it’s a safe, efficient and cheaper manner and takes Soldiers off of the road.”

The train engine pulled the cars forward, each holding two containers. Once the cars were loaded, the engine unhooked, pulled forward, switched tracks and came around to what was the rear of the railroad cars to hook up to take the cars off post to the Taji Station for further movement south and onward to Kuwait.

The train conductor, Mohammed, said that he is proud to serve his country and to help rebuild it. He said that he has worked in the railroad business since 1994.

The 10th Sustainment Brigade has the lead to synchronize all rail efforts at Taji, said Maj. Peter Vien, 10th Sustainment Brigade engineer, and Orlando, Fla., native. “In addition, we also worked with the IRR in the last several months to repair the damaged rail spur so that it can accommodate limited train operations.” He said it was a successful mission since “we achieved the mission end state – to be able to load 40 empty containers on the train and ship them out of Camp Taji in four hours.”

Meyer added that a follow-on mission will continue this operation and bring cargo from Umm Qasr to Taji as an efficient means of transport, and will give the Iraqis more pride and shows they can move the cargo and validates the transportation corridor between Umm Qasr and Taji. “The IRR is the heart and soul of inland distribution with Iraq being a land bridge.”

Vien said that this will directly impact on coalition forces’ abilities to retrograde equipment and material in the future. It also indicates the possibility of expansion of rail operations to other parts of Iraq, he said. “This will revitalize the IRR and will have direct impact on the Iraqi economy.”

Source: DVIDS