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Train tickets in Iran

Trains

Trains across the border

Only Tehran–Van is confirmed to run. Everything else is planned or unverified: check before you plan around it.

  • Tehran – Van

    Running (verify)

    Last confirmed 7 May 2026

    Frequency
    Twice weekly: leaves Tehran Sundays and Wednesdays (train 426, 12:35, via Tabriz), leaves Van Mondays and Thursdays. Extra Monday/Friday trains ran in spring and summer 2026.
    Duration
    about 23 h
    Fare
    3,900,000 toman (as of 7 May 2026)

    How to book: Buy in rial on raja.ir or by calling 1539, at Raja ticket offices, or on Safarmarket/Flytoday. 4-berth Sarir sleepers; a passport valid 6+ months is required and the exit fee (عوارض خروج) applies. Turkey is visa-free for Iranian passports up to 90 days.

    Onward travel: From Van: Lake Van ferry to Tatvan (about 5 h), then TCDD's Vangölü Express Tatvan–Ankara (leaves Tatvan 10:30 Tue/Thu, arrives Ankara 11:56 next day), then YHT Ankara–Istanbul. 48–75 h in total depending on connections; Turkish legs need a non-Iranian card or station purchase.

    Last confirmed by Raja on 7 May 2026 (fare 3.9 million toman). The line was cut for about a week in April 2026 after damage near Mianeh–Zanjan, and there has been no confirmation for autumn 2026. Check the current status before you buy.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

  • Tehran – Ankara

    Suspended

    How to book: No direct train. Take the Tehran–Van train, the Lake Van ferry to Tatvan and the Vangölü Express to Ankara; buy the Iranian leg in rial via Raja and the Turkish legs via ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr (foreign card) or at the station.

    Onward travel: Ankara–Istanbul YHT about 4h15 (about 780 TL economy in 2025).

    The Trans-Asia Express was suspended during the pandemic and has not resumed (Seat61, Feb 2026). Safarmarket expected direct Ankara ticket sales 'within two months' in Dec 2025; not confirmed.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

  • Tehran – Karbala (rail-bus-rail)

    Unverified

    Last confirmed 12 August 2024

    Frequency
    Announced in Aug 2024 as weekly, Saturdays from Tehran.

    How to book: As announced: Iranian train Tehran–Shalamcheh, customs, bus to Basra, Iraqi train Basra–Karbala. No sales channel, price or 2026 schedule found. Today the realistic route is train to Khorramshahr/Ahvaz or Kermanshah, then the Shalamcheh or Khosravi land border by bus.

    Onward travel: Iraqi trains are station-only, day-of-travel purchase, cash or Mastercard (Seat61, Apr 2026).

    Sources conflict: the Shalamcheh–Basra link is still reported as under construction, which contradicts a regular Karbala service. Treat it as not bookable until an operator sells tickets.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

  • Mashhad – Herat

    Unverified

    Last confirmed 2 June 2025

    How to book: No booking channel found. RAI announced a passenger train 'within one to two weeks' on 2 June 2025; no 2026 report confirms regular operation.

    Khaf–Herat line is built but Safarmarket (Dec 2025) says the Rozanak–Herat section is not operational, leaving about 85 km by road.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

  • Shalamcheh – Basra

    Under construction

    How to book: Not open to passengers. Pilgrims take the train to Khorramshahr (Shalamcheh border station, expanded in July 2025) and cross by land.

    Onward travel: Baghdad–Basra overnight train resumed 7 Aug 2026 (Basra 19:30); station-only tickets.

    Safarmarket targeted end of 1404 (March 2026), which was missed. 2026 reports conflict (Iraq 'starting work' vs about 70% complete) and could not be fetched.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

  • Astara – Baku

    Unverified

    Last confirmed 21 December 2025

    Frequency
    Azerbaijani train from Astara (AZ) to Baku nightly around 20:00 (Safarmarket, Dec 2025).

    How to book: No through ticket: cross the Astara land border on foot or by road, then buy the Azerbaijani train on the other side (ticket.ady.az or station). Iranians need an Azerbaijani e-visa.

    Onward travel: Baku–Tbilisi night train restarted 26 May 2026 from 81 AZN (Baku 23:10, Tbilisi 21:00).

    Times are from late 2025 and have not been re-checked for autumn 2026.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

  • Gorgan – Incheh Borun

    Unverified

    Last confirmed 21 December 2025

    Frequency
    Twice daily, 06:30 and 13:00, about 50 minutes (Safarmarket, Dec 2025; times date from the 2015 launch).
    Duration
    about 0.83 h

    How to book: Domestic train to the border station; onward into Turkmenistan needs a visa and separate transport. No online channel confirmed.

    Onward travel: Iran–Turkmenistan passenger rail was 'under review' in April 2025; a Mashhad–Sarakhs–Merv trial is unverified.

    The 2026 status of this service is unverified.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

  • Zahedan – Quetta

    Unverified

    How to book: No passenger train found for 2026; Aban 1405 schedules show only Zahedan–Khash suburban trains in the south-east. Iran Air flies Zahedan–Quetta weekly on Wednesdays since 14 Oct 2026 (IR826 10:10 out, IR827 14:25 back).

    No passenger train could be found for 2026; the border is served by Iran Air's weekly Zahedan–Quetta flight instead.

    Passport and exit tax requiredSource

Data updated 3 November 2026