The Monumental Trans-Iranian Railway
Completed in 1938, the Trans-Iranian Railway stands as one of the most extraordinary engineering achievements of the 20th century.
The Trans-Iranian Railway crosses the entire Iranian territory, linking the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf, overcoming rugged landscapes, mountain ranges, and desert regions. With over 1,000 bridges, 200 tunnels, and countless stations connecting cities and towns, the railway is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – not only for its technical significance, but also for its cultural, social, and strategic Impact. This 4-part documentary series follows the route of the Trans-Iranian Railway from north to south, telling a story that spans nearly a century – covering infrastructure, national identity, engineering, commerce, tourism, and geopolitics. Through archival footage, historical maps, vintage photos, contemporary images, and direct testimonies, the series weaves together memory and the present, landscape and civilization, to reveal the spirit of an infrastructure that once united a country and now connects it to the world.
Episodes
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A Dream on Rails
The journey traces the early stages of the creation of the Trans-Iranian Railway national railway infrastructure from the northern shore of Iran, at the Caspian Sea port city of Bandar-e Torkama clear to the Persian Gulf. Along the route, the documentary highlights the logistical challenges in complex terrain, international collaborations, and the local communities’ reactions.
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Bridges, Tunnels, and Mountains
In this episode, we enter the heart of the Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges, with dizzying bridges and tunnels carved into rock. Experts recount the epic construction of the railway, focusing on innovative engineering solutions at the time.
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Tracks Among the People
The Trans-Iranian railway is a journey through the human, cultural and urban dimensions of Iran. We see the peripheral, tourist and commuter railway lines, and the train as a means of exchange, migration and everyday life, past and present.
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The Corridor of the Future
Today, the Trans-Iranian railway is a strategic infrastructure for international trade. In a context of sanctions, new alliances, and major Eurasian corridors, we look at how this critical corridor has returned to the spotlight as a geopolitical and commercial asset.
Facts
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Original TitleThe Monumental Trans-Iranian Railway
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YearDelivery: Q2 2026
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Length4 × 52' (ENG, GER)
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ResolutionHD, 4K
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Film byAndrea Vogt, Paul Russel
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Produced by