Work on the project is expected to start in 2018 and take three years to complete. The contract with Russian Railways (RZD) covers the supply and installation of electrification equipment, seven sub-stations, and a power supply control centre.

Russia is financing the project from a $US 5bn line of credit for Iranian infrastructure projects.

The Gorgan line is connected to the Turkmenistan network via a link from Bandar Turkman to Incheh Borun.