Russia delivered its first coal shipment to India utilizing the eastern branch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that traverses Central Asia.
Two trains laden with Kuzbass coal, originating from the Kemerovo region in Western Siberia, embarked on this journey. Their route run through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan before reaching the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, as reported by Russian Railways RZD.
At the Turkmen-Iranian border crossing in Sarakhs, the cargo underwent a gauge conversion. The coal was transferred from Russian wagons with a 1520 mm gauge to wagons with a 1435 mm gauge, which is the standard for Iranian railways.
In Sarakhs, two new trains, each consisting of 59 wagons, were formed with the reloaded cargo from the original Russian trains, according to RZD-partner.
The final leg of the journey will involve transporting the solid fuel by sea from Bandar Abbas to the Indian port of Mumbai. The entire route covers a distance of approximately 1,600 kilometers. ///nCa, 24 June 2024