Railways in

Iraq

Diesel multiple units supplied by China Railway Corporation for use on the Baghdad to Basra route stand at Basra station.

The first railway in Iraq opened in 1914 between Baghdad and Samarra, a distance of 120km. This was the first section in present day Iraq of the much delayed Baghdad Railway, intended to connect that city with Istanbul, and authorised by the Ottoman government at the turn of the century. It was built to standard (1435mm) gauge. Subsequent expansion covered most of the main populated areas of Iraq (notably the river valleys of Mesopotamia) at this gauge or at metre gauge. Some of the metre gauge lines were converted to standard gauge in the 1980s, while the remainder were abandoned.

By the beginning of the 21st century, Iraqi Railways were much run down. Some 1700km of the standard gauge network remained in use, including the original Baghdad Railway connecting with the rail network of Syria, and through Syria to Türkiye.

From 2003 war devastated even this remaining network and recovery took a number of years. By 2012, commuter lines in Baghdad and long distance routes from Baghdad to Basra, Fallujah and Mosul had been restored to operation. New trains for the Baghdad to Basra passenger service were delivered in 2014.

In 2014 following invasion of the city by terrorist forces, the rail line to Mosul was severed again. The city was liberated in 2017 but rail infrastruture had been badly damaged during the occupation. In 2020 it was announced that Mosul station would be restored, together with the rail line to Baghdad, but the start of work has been repeatedly delayed.

In 2023, construction began on a new 32km line between Basra and Shalamcheh, Iran, connecting the national rail networks of both countries.

In 2023, the Iraqi government announced a project for a 1200km rail corridor with a parallel road, running from an enlarged container port at Al-Faw in Basra via Baghdad to Mosul. It is not clear whether this would use the existing rail alignments, new alignments parallel to the existing lines or a combination of both. From Mosul the line would continue on a new alignment to the Turkish border at Ovaköy. In September, 2024, design work on the new transport link was reported as being complete. It is expected that Türkiye will build a new line from the border to connect with its existing network, thus providing a new international link.

Also in 2023, discussions were taking place between the governments of Iran and Syria for a new international line crossing Iraq and ultimately linking Gulf ports in Iran with Mediterranean ports in Lebanon.

In 2026, a tourist tram service was opened along Al-Rashid Street in Baghdad. The standard gauge line, about 600m in length, uses a specially built battery electric tram in the style of historic trams in Istanbul.

• Iraqi Republic Railways (No website located at present)
• Baghdad Al-Rashid Street tram (No website located at present)