Raja Passenger Train Company is an associate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways(IRIR)and manages its passenger trains,including international trains linking Tehran to Istanbul and Damascus.Raja Passenger Train Company carried more than 4 million passengers during 2003-05.The number of passengers traveling by rail increased from 11.7 million in 2000 to 17.3 million in the year ending March 2005.Every passenger wagon annually carries 7,340 passengers per kilometer on average(whereas the figure is 3,950 people per kilometer in Turkey and 5,220 passengers per kilometer in Egypt).Private enterprises are expected to operate 5,000 wagons by 2009 (50% of total).[1] Railway Transportation Company is also a subsidiary of the IRIR to manage its freight transport while the Ministry of Roads and Transportation is the state agency that oversees the IRIR.In Iran,for every wagon,some 1,050 tons of freight are being transported(2008).[18]The cargo rail system between Iran, Turkey and Pakistan will begin regular operations by August 2010.[21] Zarand Company provides the national railroad system with freight and passenger train carriages.[22]