Draft:IRR Western Line

The IRR Western Line, alternatively Baghdad-Huseyba/Qaim-Akashat Railway(s) is a railway line of the Iraqi Republic Railways (IRR) that connects Akashat and Qaim with Baghdad via Ramadi and Falluja. It is mostly a single-track unelectrified line, with some sections up to Mufraq Rutba double-tracked. The line is about 520 km (320 mi) long and has a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). The line is one of two Iraqi railways with active passenger service—the commuter rail between Baghdad and Falluja, the only other being the Baghdad-Basra Service.

Technical Specifications

The Railway Line had a fully automatic relay system since 1986. The Railway Line featured a network of sound cables that provided communication between stations and locomotives, or to other stations. As of October 2018, the signalling and communication systems are out of service.

Along the line, five light maintenance workshops at Baghdad, Falluja, Ramadi, Haqlaniya and Akashat and two heavy maintenance factories at Qaim and Baghdad have been built.

The track gauge is standard-gauge (1435 millimetres), the gauge used on all Iraqi Railways since the 1984 closure of the Baghdad-Erbil Railway. The rails have a UIC 60 profile with welded joints, a standard type of rail, designed for high-speed and heavy freight services. The axle load is 25 tons. The sleepers are made of precast concrete, with nearly 4,000 glued insulated joints.

Due to significant damage sustained during conflicts, the line is currently operating at reduced speeds. It is estimated that approximately 90% of the line's infrastructure has been damaged, requiring operators to exercise caution, which limits the operational speed to a maximum of 100 km/h, often even below that.

The construction process involved stabilising compressive soils over a distance of 50 kilometres to prevent track subsidence. Additionally, foundational reinforcement was necessary for both the railway and the adjacent highway bridges. The Habbaniyah Lake dam was relocated to facilitate the railway construction with regular studies and monitoring of the structure conducted throughout the project.

History

A man standing on the Tracks of the Akashat Railway Yard

Construction of the 144 km Akashat-Qaim stretch began in the summer of 1981 and was completed by February 1982, with 5 stations along the route. Construction of the 376 km section from Huseyba to Baghdad, which included 23 stations and passed through more densely populated areas, began in November 1982 and was completed by 1987. The line's construction happened entirely within the timeframe of the Iraq-Iran war. Despite occasional delays due to the war, construction proceeded relatively smoothly, as the project site was located far from the frontlines. The construction of the Akashat Branch was officially intended for transporting phosphate, as stated by employees of the IRR. However, there are claims it was also used for transporting yellowcake from the Akashat uranium mine to a Swiss-built uranium enrichment facility in Qaim. It was believed that weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), including nuclear materials and mustard gas, might have been processed in Qaim using minerals from Akashat and surrounding areas during Saddam Hussein's pursuit of WMDs. However, no WMDs were found after the Iraq War.

From 2004 to 2024, trains heading to Qaim and Akashat had to take a detour over Baiji to Baghdad, which added over 100 km (62 mi) to the journey (Baghdad-Falluja-Qaim=375km; Baghdad-Baiji-Qaim=500km), due to the up until recently destroyed bridge.

Operations and Recent Developments

A daily commuter rail line currently spans the 65-kilometre distance from Baghdad to Falluja. Trains start the trip to the capital at 6:45 am and return at 3:00 pm. On average 250 passengers take the journey from Baghdad to Falluja every day. Tickets for the Falluja Train are relatively cheap, even for Iraqi standards, with a one-way fare costing 2000 IQD or 1.5 USD.

Even though new trains have been bought, the line still doesn't operate the 72 trains a day it did during its heyday.

The detour via Baiji became unnecessary following the reconstruction of the Euphrates Bridge, which had interrupted service for 20 years, forcing trains to terminate at Falluja. After this hiatus, marked by political instability and corruption, the reconstruction of the aforementioned bridge was completed. The reopening ceremony took place on October 8th, in conjunction with the 'Year of Achievements' project launched by the Iraqi Prime Minister. Passenger service to at least Ramadi is expected to resume by the end of 2024, according to information by the Transportation Ministry.