Rail Expansion Key to Cutting Iran's Fuel Consumption, President Says

President Masoud Pezeshkian said expanding Iran’s rail network and easing traffic congestion are among the most effective ways to reduce gasoline and diesel consumption. Speaking Friday at a meeting on border terminals and transportation in West Azarbaijan Province, Pezeshkian said investment in rail infrastructure should take priority over expanding road transportation, according to the presidential office.

“If you ask me, I would prioritize investment in railways over road transport,” he said. “The more road transport expands, the more fuel we will consume and the more subsidies we will have to pay for gasoline and diesel.”

Pezeshkian said reducing traffic bottlenecks, shortening travel delays and expanding rail transport are essential to lowering fuel consumption. Improving transportation routes, he added, would reduce travel times, vehicle idling and overall fuel use. He said advanced transportation systems maintain a balanced mix of road, rail and maritime transport, with freight moving primarily by sea and then by rail.

Pezeshkian added that a modern rail network would encourage people to use trains instead of private cars, buses and other road vehicles for daily travel, improving safety and convenience while reducing fuel consumption.

He also called for electrifying the rail network and powering it with solar energy, saying such a transition would significantly reduce fossil fuel use and help curb air pollution. The president said Iran should also accelerate the transition of public transportation fleets, government vehicles, taxis and other service vehicles to hybrid and fuel-efficient models to minimize gasoline and diesel consumption. - Shana