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Tehran Metro

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The Tehran Metro is a massive rapid transit system serving Tehran, the capital of Iran.

Metro Tehran
Metro Tehran

It holds the title of the largest metro system in the Middle East. This network is owned and operated by the Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway. Today, the system serves as a vital artery for the city's movement. It carries more than 3 million passengers every single day. In 2018 alone, people made 820 million trips using these trains.

Tehran Metro-Azadi Station
Tehran Metro-Azadi Station

The system relies on several different types of rail lines. Currently, there are six operational metro lines and one commuter rail line. The metro uses a standard gauge, which refers to the specific distance between the rails. Most of the tracks are located underground to navigate the dense city. To build these tunnels, engineers use a tunnel boring machine, or TBM. For Line 6, workers use an earth pressure balanced method with the TBM. This specific technique allows the machine to pass safely through urban areas. It prevents the ground from settling or sinking during the construction process.

Each metro line has its own specific characteristics and routes. Line 1 is a major north-south route and functions as an express subway line. It is the only line in the system that is completely open 24 hours a day. This is to accommodate passengers traveling to and from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. Line 2 runs mostly east-west and connects areas like Sadeghiyeh to Tehran Pars. Line 3 travels from the northeast to the southwest to help reduce city traffic. Line 4 connects the western and eastern parts of the city with 23 stations.

Line 5 serves as a green-colored commuter rail line. It connects the western end of Line 2 at Sadeghiyeh to the Karaj and Golshahr areas.

Golshahr metRo
Golshahr metRo

Line 6 is a pink line that connects the southeast to the northwest. Line 7 also travels from the northwest to the southeast. It was built using modern TBM machines to navigate the city. The system is growing through many different types of expansion projects. Some projects add new stations to existing lines, while others create entirely new routes.

The history of the Tehran Metro is a long and complex journey. Initial plans were first laid out in the late 1960s. In 1970, the Municipality of Tehran announced an international tender for construction. A French company named SOFRETU won the tender and began preliminary studies. In 1974, they proposed a "street-metro" system with an 8-line network. Construction actually began in northern Tehran in 1978. However, the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the Iran-Iraq War in 1980 stopped the work. SOFRETU ceased its operations in Iran in December 1980.

Work eventually resumed after the project was re-approved in 1985. This was a continuation of the original project designed before the revolution. The Metro Company was established to manage the growing system. During its early years, the company received government concessions for various industries. These included iron ore mines in Bandar Abbas and oil refinery residues from Isfahan. The first line eventually launched between Tehran and Karaj. Since then, the system has seen massive investment, with approximately $2 billion spent on the project.

There are specific rules and social structures within the metro. A single journey costs 5,300 Iranian Toman, which is about 0.05 US dollars. Using prepaid tickets can reduce this cost significantly. Seniors are allowed to travel on the metro for free. To accommodate social customs, certain carriages are reserved for women. On all trains, the first carriage and half of the second carriage are for women only.

Teheran Metro women only
Teheran Metro women only

Passengers can still ride the other carriages freely. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the metro also required all passengers to wear masks.

The future of the Tehran Metro involves massive expansion. The current network is part of a much larger long-term vision. By the year 2040, the system is planned to have eleven lines. This completed network will include a total of 330 stations. Construction is already underway on several new lines and extensions. These include Line 8, Line 9, and Line 11. There are also extensions planned for Lines 2, 4, 6, and 7.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:Teheran Metro women only.jpg
Teheran Metro women only.jpg
File:Tehran Metro-Azadi Station.jpg
Tehran Metro-Azadi Station.jpg
File:Golshahr metRo.jpg
Golshahr metRo.jpg
File:Metro Tehran.svg
Metro Tehran.svg
File:Tehran Metro Line 1.png
Tehran Metro Line 1.png
File:Tehran Metro Line 2.png
Tehran Metro Line 2.png
File:Tehran Metro Line 3.png
Tehran Metro Line 3.png
File:Tehran Metro Line 4.svg
Tehran Metro Line 4.svg
File:Tehran Metro Line 5.svg
Tehran Metro Line 5.svg
File:Tehran Metro Line 6.svg
Tehran Metro Line 6.svg
File:Tehran Metro Line 7.svg
Tehran Metro Line 7.svg
File:Tehran Metro map-Planned-geo.png
Tehran Metro map-Planned-geo.png

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