The 415km Tehran - Qom - Isfahan line will have a design speed of at least 250km/h.

Italferr says it will be responsible for “activities related to the realisation of infrastructure work” and plans to open an office in Iran in the near future.

The contract award follows the signing of a cooperation agreement last April by FS CEO Mr Renato Mazzoncini and RAI president Dr Mohsen Pour Seyed Aghaei.