Traveling Iran by train | DW Documentary

DW Documentary18 minutes read

Exploring foreign music by train in Iran offers a romantic and leisurely experience, showcasing the country's rich history, economic developments, and natural resources, despite facing economic challenges and sanctions. The Trans-Iranian Railway, with its 1,400-kilometer journey and significant role in World War II, provides insights into Iran's culture and modernization, concluding in Tehran, a bustling city with a rich railway history.

Insights

  • The Trans-Iranian Railway, spanning 1,400 kilometers, was a monumental economic project primarily focused on oil transport, showcasing Iran's infrastructure development.
  • Despite modernization and rich history, Tehran faces economic challenges like sanctions and inflation, impacting the population, emphasizing the complex socio-economic landscape of Iran.

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Recent questions

  • How can foreign music be explored?

    By train, offering a romantic and leisurely experience.

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Summary

00:00

Exploring Foreign Music by Train: Iran's Renaissance

  • The best way to explore foreign music is by train, offering a romantic and leisurely experience.
  • Starting the journey on the Shatt al-Arab river, once a war-torn region now a bustling port.
  • Iran's railway system is undergoing a renaissance, with assigned seating for stress-free travel.
  • The Trans-Iranian Railway, a 1,400-kilometer journey from Karamsha to the Caspian Sea, was a significant economic development project.
  • The railway was primarily built for oil transport, with passenger transport initially being of lesser importance.
  • The construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway took 11 years, with 230 tunnels and 4,100 bridges built.
  • Visiting the hydraulic system in Shushta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcasing ancient water-powered mills.
  • The journey through the Zagros Mountains offers scenic views and insights into the region's significance.
  • A stop for prayer reflects Iran's Islamic culture, with strict gender separation in prayer rooms.
  • The journey concludes in Tehran, a city that has modernized significantly since the 1920s, with a bustling bazaar and a rich history of railway development.

30:38

Iran's Coal Mines: Riches and Struggles

  • Iran, despite its wealth, faces economic sanctions and high inflation, impacting the population negatively.
  • The North of Iran is rich in natural resources, particularly high-quality coal, mined by 70 men earning around 300 Euros monthly.
  • The coal mine, initially crucial for steam trains during World War II, now serves non-military purposes like iron smelting and heating homes.
  • The Trans-Iranian Railway played a significant role in World War II, serving as a transport corridor for the Red Army, with the highest Railway Bridge in Iran being a symbol of victory.
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