The Khaf-Herat Railway Route
By Sophia Nina B-A
Background
The Khaf-Herat railway is a 225 km standard-gauge (1,435mm), non-electric rail line linking Northeastern Iran to Western Afghanistan. First proposed in 1975 to primarily transport iron ore from the nearby mines in Afghanistan to cover the supply shortage in Iran. A secondary factor, was to connect Iran with China and Central Asia via Afghanistan.
History
The first agreement between the two countries was signed in 2002, and feasibility studies completed in 2006. Construction began in 2007. The project is divided into four sections: Iran funded and built the first three, extending to Roznak-Jono station in Afghanistan. Repair works on the third section was funded and carried out by Afghanistan. The fourth final section is currently being built by a private Kazakh company, INKON, a private Afghan-German company Cinderella International Group, and a private Russian company Gamma Group. The first three sections form the only operational rail link between the two countries, currently used for freight—mainly minerals, construction materials, and humanitarian aid—with no passenger service. There have been talks of starting a passenger service, but currently it is only freight.
The railway is designed with a speed of 160km per hour for passenger trains and 120 km per hour for freight trains. Once fully operational, the Khaf-Herat railway line plans to transport 3 million tonnes of cargo in the first year and 6 million tonnes in the second year. Currently commercial trains operating at low capacity, with traffic of about 2 to 4 train cars a month carrying export or transit cargo or equipment related to the development and equipping of Section 4 of the railway in Herat province.
Route
The Khaf-Herat railway is divided into four sections—two in Iran and two in Afghanistan.
Section 1 runs from the city of Khaf to the city of Sangan ~10-14km
Section 2 extends from the cities of Sangan to Myothek and Khoshbeh, reaching the Iran-Afghan border at Shamtigh station. ~66km
Section 3 continues from Shamtigh (Iran) to Shamtigh (Afghanistan), then to Dasht-e-Ghorian, ending at Roznak/Juno station. ~62km
Section 4 is split into two phases:
Section 4a runs from Roznak to Nawabad station in the city of Roberti Payan. ~43km
Section 4b extends from Nawabad to Herat International Airport in the Herat Industrial Zone. ~47km
Previously only pilot runs and humanitarian aid cargo was being carried on this rail line. Since the beggining of 2025, 30,000 tonnes of export and transit cargo between Iran and Afghanistan has travelled on the partially completed Khaf-Herat rail route.
Project Management: The Afghan Railway Consortium
The Khaf-Herat railway on the Afghan side is managed by the Afghan Railway Consortium, a private joint-stock company established in December 2022 and registered in Mashhad, Iran. Despite its name, it is not Afghan-owned—among its shareholders include 15 Iranian transport companies, Iran’s national pension fund (specifics not disclosed), the Iranian Ministry of Roads & Urban Development, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, Iran's national railway operator.
Spelling Variations of Names
During my research, I noticed that the spellings of the railway station, town, district and province names along the route vary. A lot. Most information on the Khaf-Herat rail line is published in Persian, and in Persian language sources. So I have made a list of all the spelling variations I came across for reference. If you know any more, please do get in touch!
Also spelled as Kahwaf, Khawaf, Khawaaf, Khauf, and in Persian “خواف”
Also spelled as Ma’dan Sangan, Sangan-e-Khaf, Sangān-e Pā'īn, Sangān Pā'īn, Sangūn-e Pā'īn, Sangūn-i-Pāīn and in Persian “سنگان”
There were a lot of spelling variations on Myothek. This was the most obscure town to find open-source details on. After a lot of perseverance and digging I managed to find some data hits on this town with alternative spellings. The spelling changes based on pronunciation/phonetics. I list them all here: Myothek, Miwatek, Miotech, Miyotek, Miwok, Miyotech, Myotech, Miwatech, and in Persian, “میوتک”
Similar to above – a lot of spelling variations on this town too. This includes: Khoshbeh, Khvoshabeh, Khoshabeh, Khoushbe, Khowjeh, Beyk, and in Persian “خوشابه”
Spelling variations: Shamtiq, Shamtigh, Shematigh, Shmtygh and in Persian, “شمتیغ”.
Spelling variations of Joye Now: Jono, Jonaw, Junaw, JoyeNow Jona, and in Persian “جونو”
Spelling variation of Rozanek include: Rahzanak, Roznak,Rosnak, Rosanek and in Persian “روزنک”
Spelling variation of Ghourian: Ghorian, Ghoryan, Goryan, Gorian, and in Persian “غوريان”
Khaf-Herat railway line in Persian: “خط راه آهن خواف هرات”
Source list
Quite long and still a lot more to add! I will organise these sources by date and provide a short summary so it is more clear soon!
https://zdmira.com/news/kompaniya-iz-kazakhstana-postroit-uchastok-zheleznoj-dorogi-mezhdu-iranom-i-afganistanom
See page 29 in https://policy.asiapacificenergy.org/sites/default/files/NATIONAL%20INFRASTRUCTURE%20PLAN%202017-2021.pdf
https://www.itca-kh.com/?id=42687
https://kz.kursiv.media/2024-12-18/zhnb-afganrailwayskz/
https://www.railinsider.com.ua/kompaniya-z-kazahstanu-pobuduye-dilyank/
https://zdmira.com/news/kompaniya-iz-kazakhstana-postroit-uchastok-zheleznoj-dorogi-mezhdu-iranom-i-afganistanom
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/khawaf-herat-railroad-agreement-signed-in-kabul/
https://casp-geo.ru/strategicheskie-perspektivy-i-znachenie-zheleznoj-dorogi-haf-gerat/ and https://ivran.ru/f/Vostochnaia_analitika_2021_Vypusk_1.pdf
https://thekabultimes.com/herat-to-become-railroad-cross/ and https://www.avapress.com/en/news/197886/kazakhstani-company-will-construct-43-km-railway-in-herat-province
https://www.inform.kz/ru/kazahstanskaya-kompaniya-vozobnovit-stroitelstvo-zheleznodorozhnoy-vetki-v-kabule-53c9e7 and https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/region-news/details/15873?lang=ru. And https://inconkz.com/ru/projects/stroitelstvo-zhd
http://news.mrud.ir/news/196907/%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%DA%A9%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87
The AVA report also highlights that ‘This project also includes the construction of 81 bridge piers and five large bridge piers, including 81 bridge piers and three large bridge piers.In the first part of this project, six transit stations have been planned to facilitate passenger movement, and construction work has progressed by 25 percent.At the same time, a station equipped with modern facilities has been designed in the Robat Paryan area to evacuate passengers, commercial goods, and train overtaking, and its work has reached approximately 20 percent physical progress.’ And lists the 43km and 47km of the fourth stage - https://rta.af/fa/article9737/
https://www.alemarahdari.af/outside-inside/economy/%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B9%D9%87-%DA%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%85-%D8%AE%D8%B7-%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AE/
https://zdmira.com/news/iran-i-afganistan-dogovorilis-uskorit-zavershenie-rabot-na-linii-khaf-gerat
https://www.tasnimnews.com/ru/news/2025/05/28/3322919/%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%B2-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8-%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B3-%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D0%B0%D1%84%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0
https://ipekyollogistic.com/ru/%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%88%D1%80%D1%83%D1%82%D1%8B-%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5/
https://www.ariananews.af/first-european-consignment-of-un-aid-reaches-afghanistan-via-khaf-herat-railway/
https://www.irna.ir/news/85846839/%DA%A9%D9%85%DA%A9-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%82-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1404/01/08/3282083/%D8%AE%D8%B7-%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%BE%D8%A7
https://iraf.ir/54360/economy/%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d9%88%d9%84%d9%87-%d8%b3%db%8c%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88-%d8%b4%da%a9%d8%b1-%d8%a7%db%8c%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%88-%d8%a7%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d8%b2-%d9%85%d8%b3%db%8c/
https://www.ilna.ir/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-4/1616120-%D8%A2%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%BE%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86
https://www.afintl.com/en/202503271707
https://www.faraz.ir/fa/news/79680/%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%7C-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%84-%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86
INKON website Khaf-Herat construction project detail: https://inconkz.com/ru/projects/stroitelstvo-zhd
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188993
https://www.herattimes.net/herat-143/
https://www.metraconsultant.com/project_category/roads-railways/page/2/
https://www.avapress.com/fa/news/115926/%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4-%DB%B3%DB%B0-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%DA%98%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AC%DB%8C%D9%84-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AD
https://www.avapress.com/en/news/258903/repair-of-rail-and-non-rail-facilities-herat-khowaf-railway-station
https://www.cinderella-int.group/railways/
https://www.ariananews.af/management-of-kabul-serena-hotel-handed-over-to-german-firm/
https://www.metraconsultant.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/khavaf-harat.pdf
https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1395/06/17/1180835/%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81-%D8%B3%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%B4%D8%AF
https://kohandazh.com/%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%AA-95-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%AF%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D8%B7-%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D9%88/
https://sahebkhabar.ir/news/15151821/%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%84-%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%87-%D9%86%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86