IRR Southern Line
| Company type | State-owned enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Headquarters | Baghdad , Iraq |
Area served | Iraq |
| Products | Passenger and freight rail services |
| Parent | Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR) |
The IRR Southern Line, also referred to as the Baghdad–Basra Railway Line (Route Number 2), links the Iraqi capital Baghdad with the major port city of Basra. Covering a distance of about , it includes important stops such as Karbala, Musayyib, Diwaniya, Samawah, Nasiriya, and Um Qasr. Although there was a suggestion to upgrade this corridor to a high-speed rail and extend it to Najaf, this initiative was never realized.[1][2] Along with the commuter train service to Falluja, it represents one of only two passenger rail operations currently active in Iraq.
Technical specifications
Initially designed for high-speed travel with a maximum velocity of , the line now operates at an average speed of and can reach up to .[1][3]
The railway encompasses of track with 39 stations along the principal route, plus an additional station on the Karbala Branch and four stations on the Um Qasr Branch. The rails utilize a UIC 60 profile with welded joints engineered to accommodate high-speed trains and heavy freight, supporting axle loads up to 25 tons. In contrast, the Um Qasr Branch employs coupled joints.[4]
Maintenance facilities include two major overhaul plants located in Baghdad and Samawa—situated roughly midway between Baghdad and Basra—as well as two lighter workshops based in Baghdad and Basra.[4]
The signalling system depends on a semiautomatic block relay setup installed in 1975, supplemented by sound cables running alongside the tracks to enable communication between stations and locomotives.[4]
Metre gauge
The original metre-gauge railway connecting Baghdad and Basra was established during the First World War amid the Mesopotamian Campaign. Operated initially by British authorities under ‘Mesopotamian Railways’ (MR), later renamed ‘Iraqi State Railways’ (ISR), and from 1958 known as ‘Iraqi Republic Railways’ (IRR), the line incorporated military-built infrastructure from wartime. The final segment linking Baghdad to Basra was completed in 1924 and remained operational until 1968, when it was superseded by a new standard-gauge route.
Standard gauge
During the 1960s, IRR developed a standard-gauge railway between Baghdad and Basra, commencing freight operations on March 10, 1964, and passenger services on April 25, 1968. Following this, the metre-gauge line was decommissioned.
Train services were disrupted by extensive damage during the Gulf War, shortly after American intervention. Restoration efforts enabled resumption of operations on May 22, 1991.
Continued political turmoil and economic difficulties in Iraq have led to inconsistent service quality, with travel times frequently surpassing one day and schedules lacking exact arrival details.
High speed train
A proposal for a high-speed rail initiative emerged in 2011 but did not progress; talks were revived in 2023. At the 2011 Paris Air Show, French junior transport minister Thierry Mariani revealed that French firm Alstom had signed a memorandum of understanding with Iraqi authorities to construct the line and would engage in exclusive negotiations for one year.
Service and Recent Developments
The Baghdad-Basra route currently offers one train per day traveling in each direction, with travel times ranging from 8 to 12 hours. The service from Baghdad Central Station departs at 8:00 pm and arrives at Basra Al Maqal Railway Station by 4:30 am. The return journey leaves Basra at 7:00 pm and reaches Baghdad at approximately 6:15 am.
Passengers can choose from various ticket classes: two-berth sleeper cabins priced at 37,000 IQD (around 28 USD), four-berth sleeper cabins for 31,000 IQD (approximately 24 USD), second-class seats costing 10,000 IQD (about 8 USD), and first-class seating available for 15,000 IQD (roughly 11 USD). Onboard catering includes offerings such as tea, kebabs, and light snacks.
Starting in 2014, the Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR) began integrating a new fleet of ten trains acquired from CRRC Qingdao Sifang. This fleet comprises two diesel locomotives paired with eight steel-bodied passenger cars engineered to endure Iraq’s harsh desert environment, including intense heat and dust conditions. Infrastructure enhancements are ongoing, featuring the complete double-tracking of the line alongside the construction of new bridges, embankments, and culverts. All engineering and project management responsibilities remain under the direct supervision of IRR.
Trivia
In 1917, a temporary firewood stop was dismantled by local tribesmen who repurposed the valuable materials used in its construction, leading to its abandonment. Furthermore, there are occasional incidents where local youths throw stones at passing trains, resulting in window damage.
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