Baghdad Metro
Encyclopedia
The Baghdad Metro is a surface commuter train that operates in the Iraq
i city of Baghdad
. It is operated by the state owned Iraqi Republic Railways
. It resumed operation in October, 2008. The train runs about 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) between Baghdad Central Station
and the southern neighborhood of Dora
. It operates two round trips a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The Baghdad Metro and the passenger train that runs between Baghdad and Basra
, which resumed service in 2007, were the first two regular passenger services to resume in Iraq since the Iraq War.
The Baghdad Metro's rolling stock
entered service in 1983.
In February 2009 Iraqi Republic Railways introduced a passenger service between Baghdad
and Falluja. IRR intends in future to extend the service to Al Ramadi.
launched the multi-billion-dollar subway project in 1983 to alleviate traffic congestion in Baghdad's streets. During the Iran-Iraq war
the subway project was halted.
At a December 2002 press conference, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
spoke of "enormous miles and miles and miles of underground tunneling" that prevented the United Nations from properly inspecting Saddam's WMD
stocks.
Hussein al-Shahristani, a scientist imprisoned by Saddam, told CBS' "60 Minutes
" that "We believe now it is more than 100 kilometers of very complex network, multilayer tunnels."
, and the reduction of car-ownership regulation.
In November 2008, Baghdad mayor Sabir al-Isawi announced plans for a 2-line $US 3 billion expansion of metro services in the city which would be built pending funding. One line would run from Sadr City
(previously called Al-Thawra or Saddam City) to A'dhamiya, while the other would link the center of Baghdad with its western suburbs. Each line would have 20 stations. In February 2011, an agreement was signed with Alstom
, for the construction of a 25km line from central Baghdad to the northern suburbs of Adhamiya, Hurriya, Kadhimiya, and Shaab.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i city of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. It is operated by the state owned Iraqi Republic Railways
Iraqi Republic Railways
Iraqi Republic Railways Company ' is the national railway operator in Iraq.-Network:...
. It resumed operation in October, 2008. The train runs about 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) between Baghdad Central Station
Baghdad Central Station
Baghdad Central Station is the main train station in Baghdad. It links the rail network to the south and the north of Iraq.- See also :* Iraqi Republic Railways* Railway stations in Iraq* Baghdad Metro...
and the southern neighborhood of Dora
Dora, Baghdad
Dora is a neighborhood in Al Rashid administrative district, southern Baghdad, Iraq. Although this was a majority Christian neighborhood, it became controlled by Sunni Muslim Extremists during the Iraq War...
. It operates two round trips a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The Baghdad Metro and the passenger train that runs between Baghdad and Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, which resumed service in 2007, were the first two regular passenger services to resume in Iraq since the Iraq War.
The Baghdad Metro's rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
entered service in 1983.
In February 2009 Iraqi Republic Railways introduced a passenger service between Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and Falluja. IRR intends in future to extend the service to Al Ramadi.
Politics
Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
launched the multi-billion-dollar subway project in 1983 to alleviate traffic congestion in Baghdad's streets. During the Iran-Iraq war
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
the subway project was halted.
At a December 2002 press conference, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
spoke of "enormous miles and miles and miles of underground tunneling" that prevented the United Nations from properly inspecting Saddam's WMD
WMD
WMD may refer to:* Weapon of mass destruction, a term used to describe munitions with the capacity to kill large numbers of human beings indiscriminately* Weighted mean difference, a measure in statistical meta-analysis...
stocks.
Hussein al-Shahristani, a scientist imprisoned by Saddam, told CBS' "60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
" that "We believe now it is more than 100 kilometers of very complex network, multilayer tunnels."
Future expansion
Since the 2003 Iraq War, traffic problems in Baghdad have increased significantly, due to the creation of the Green ZoneGreen Zone
The Green Zone is the most common name for the International Zone of Baghdad. It is a area of central Baghdad, Iraq, that was the governmental center of the Coalition Provisional Authority and remains the center of the international presence in the city...
, and the reduction of car-ownership regulation.
In November 2008, Baghdad mayor Sabir al-Isawi announced plans for a 2-line $US 3 billion expansion of metro services in the city which would be built pending funding. One line would run from Sadr City
Sadr City
Sadr City is a suburb district of the city of Baghdad, Iraq. It was built in 1959 by Prime Minister Abdul Karim Qassim and later unofficially renamed Sadr City after deceased Shia leader Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr....
(previously called Al-Thawra or Saddam City) to A'dhamiya, while the other would link the center of Baghdad with its western suburbs. Each line would have 20 stations. In February 2011, an agreement was signed with Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
, for the construction of a 25km line from central Baghdad to the northern suburbs of Adhamiya, Hurriya, Kadhimiya, and Shaab.