Transport in Iraq

Transport in Iraq consists of railways, highways, waterways, pipelines, ports and harbors, marines and airports.

Railways
Main article: Iraqi Republic Railways

total: 2,272 km
standard gauge: 2,272 km 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

For more than two decades there have been plans for building a metro system in Baghdad. It is possible that part of the tunnels have been built, but that they are now used for military, shelter, hiding, and escaping purposes. U.N. inspectors have heard of the tunnels for years, but have not found their entrances. map In November, 2008, an overground service dubbed the Baghdad Metro began service. Local government in Baghdad is arranging feasibility studies for the construction of two new underground lines[1]

A 37 km monorail is planned in Najaf, which would link three Shi'ite holy sites.[1]

The first Iraqi Republic Railways train to Basra since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime arrived on 26 April 2003. British troops hope to use the 68 km long railway to transport much-needed aid supplies from the port town of Umm Qasr to Basra.

In June 2011, it was announced that planning had begun for a new high-speed rail line between Baghdad and Basra, with a memorandum of understanding with Alstom having been signed.[2]

Maps

All adjacent countries generally use 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge, but may vary in couplings. Neighbours with electrified railways – Turkey and Iran – both use the world standard 25 kVAC

Road Transport

An overland trans-desert bus service between Beirut, Haifa, Damascus and Baghdad was established by the Nairn Transport Company of Damascus in 1923.

Roads
Main article: List of Highways in Iraq

total: 44,900 km
paved: 37,851 km,
unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)

Waterways

5,729 km (Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River 1,899 km, Third River (565 km)); Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km. The channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; the Shatt al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991 because of the Gulf War.

Pipelines

crude oil 5,432 km; natural gas 2,455 km; refined products 1,637 km; liquid petroleum gas 913 km

Ports and harbors

Persian Gulf

Merchant marine

total: 32 ships (with a volume of 1,000 gross tonnage (GT) or over) totaling 606,227 GT/1,067,770 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
ships by type: cargo ship 14, passenger ship 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off ship 2 (1999 est.)

Airports
Main article: List of airports in Iraq

Iraq has about 104 airports as of 2012. Major airports include:

Airports – with paved runways
Total75
over 3,047 m20
2,438 to 3,047 m36
1,524 to 2,437 m5
914 to 1,523 m6
under 914 m6

Airports – with unpaved runways
Total29
over 3,047 m3
2,438 to 3,047 m4
1,524 to 2,437 m3
914 to 1,523 m13
under 914 m6

Heliports

20 (2012)

See also

References
  1. "Railway Gazette: Urban rail progress in Najaf and Baghdad". Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  2. "Iraq: France's Alstom signs high-speed rail line deal". BBC News. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
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