Iran: On 20 April, a seven-car national train commenced passenger service on the Tehran metro, following certification for compliance with European safety standards, among other regulations.
According to Kazem Taherzadeh, manager of this project, mass production at Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Co. will commence in a month with the first order of 15 seven-car and one eight-car trains. The latter is a 138.8 m vehicle with a steel car body, having a maximum speed of 90 km/h and acceleration of 1 m/s2. Passengers can enjoy 352 seats, 56 information displays, ventilation, AC and CCTV systems. Taherzadeh estimates that the provision of a public loan would allow the localisation level to reach 85%.
Interior of the first train for the Tehran metro. Source: Tehran Picture Agency
The development of the train involved the collaboration of 25 research institutions and four plants. The Tehran plant was responsible for car bodies, ventilation systems and information displays. Mapna Rail developed bogies, Tivan Termez Raili devised a braking system and automatic doors, and others offered traction and control systems and inter-car gangways.
Earlier, the Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Co. assembled trains in cooperation with Chinese companies CNR, which was absorbed by CRRC in 2015, and Norinco. Prior to that, between 2000 and 2007, trains for Tehran were imported directly from China. According to the Iranian media, negotiations are now underway with CRRC for the purchase of 630 metro cars.
