Document Type : Scientific-Research

Authors

• Dariush Rahmanian ¹
• Sara Yarmahdavi ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Tehran University

² M.A student of history at the University of Tehran

Abstract

The idea of railway construction in Iran was discussed for the first time from the beginning of Nasir al-Din Shah Era and it developed gradually. Foreign companies and investors proposed their plans in 19^th century. Russian and British governments and later, German government proposed their plans, too. Some of Iranian reformists insisted on the importance of railway and even considered it as a way for Iran’s survival. They tried to discuss it as an important topic in Iranian thoughts and practices during Qajar Era. Although there were some local railways constructed by foreign powers for their interests, all general plans for Iran railway constructions were failed or delayed until Reza Shah Period. This article tries to have a glance at the abovementioned issues and find main reasons of delaying in Iran railway construction. On the one hand, political, administrative and economical weakness and on the other hand competition and opposition of foreign governments (Britain and Russia) were other main causes of procrastination and delay in railway construction in Iran.
 

Keywords

• Railway
• Development
• Reform
• Foreign Policy

Main Subjects

• History of Islamic Iran