Goods trains from Pakistan to Turkey via Iran are likely to resume its operations on 4 March after a gap of almost nine years, reported Dawn. 

“The schedule will be reconfirmed in a day or two, so far March 4 is the final date of departure of the train from Istanbul,” a senior official of the Pakistan Railways was quoted as saying by Dawn.

The report said senior officers from ministries of foreign affairs and economic affairs are in touch with officials of Iran and Turkey to work out a schedule to resume trains on the route.

The train will take 12 days to complete one side trip to Istanbul, the Turkish capital, and likely to reach there on 16 March. So far, nine trains from Pakistan to Turkey and six from Turkey to Pakistan had run on the route between 2009 to December 2011.

“The train named ECO Train will be operated regularly on the Thursdays falling in the first week of every month. The permissible load will be 750 gross tonnes. The train length would be 420 metres,” a statement reads.