Iraq has launched an ambitious $17 billion infrastructure initiative known as the Development Road, featuring a high-speed railway slated to begin operations in 2031.

Designed to carry up to 14 million passengers annually, the project aims to transform Iraq into a key transit hub connecting the Gulf region with Turkey and Europe.

The Transport Ministry Spokesman Maytham Safi told local media that the first phase will connect the southern port of Basra with Baghdad, with future extensions linking Iraq to Turkey and Europe.

The first phase will connect the southern port city of Basra to the capital Baghdad, with future extensions reaching northward to the Turkish border and beyond. In addition to building new lines, the plan includes revitalizing existing rail routes from Basra through Baghdad to northern provinces, supported by ongoing international financing talks.

Current rail services between Baghdad and Basra, as well as to the Middle Euphrates region, will continue uninterrupted. A new 85-kilometer line is also planned to link the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, enhancing domestic connectivity.

Stretching 1,200 kilometers, the railway will run alongside a newly constructed motorway traversing 11 provinces, forming a dual transport corridor. Iraq’s recent accession to the global TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) system further supports its goal of integrating road and rail into a regional logistics network.

The Development Road may also connect with the broader Gulf railway system. The Etihad Railway initiative, which aims to link Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, presents strong potential for integration with Iraq’s new lines. If realized, this would position Iraq as a strategic gateway between the Gulf, Turkey, and Europe.