{{Short description|Proposed railway system in Baghdad, Iraq}} {{Infobox public transit | box_width = | name = Baghdad Metro | image = Baghdad Metro Logo with tagline.svg | imagesize = | caption = | native_name = {{lang|ar|مترو بغداد}} | locale = Baghdad, Iraq | transit_type = Rapid transit | lines = 7 (planned) | line_number = | stations = 64 (planned) | key_people = | ridership = 3,250,000 (estimated) | headquarters = | owner = | system_length = ~{{convert|148|km|mi}} | vehicles = | train_length = | headway = | track_gauge = {{track gauge|1435 mm|allk=on}} | el = | top_speed = | image2 = | caption2 = | character = Underground & Elevated | alt = | website = | operator = Ministry of Transport | operation_will_start = 2029 }} The '''Baghdad Metro''' ({{langx|ar|مترو بغداد}}), also known as '''Baghdad Elevated Train''' '''(BET)''' is a planned rapid transit public railway system consisting of an underground metro as well as an elevated railway in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. In July 2024, it was announced that an international consortium consisting of French, Spanish and Turkish companies as well as Deutsche Bank were awarded $17.5 billion to implement the Baghdad Metro project.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Muhsen |first1=Majda |last2=Projects |first2=Zawya |title=Iraq's Ministry of Transport to include Baghdad Metro in 2023 budget |url=https://metrorailtoday.com/news/iraq-appointed-a-consortium-for-construction-of-175-billion-baghdad-metro-rail-project |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=metrorailtoday.com/}}</ref> The project is estimated to be completed by May 2029.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/metros/baghdad-metro-project-consortium-selected/67035.article|title=Baghdad metro project consortium selected|publisher=Railwaygazette}}</ref>
==History==
Saddam Hussein launched the multi-billion-dollar subway project in 1983 to alleviate traffic congestion in Baghdad's streets, but it was cancelled because of the Iran–Iraq War.<ref>{{cite web|author=Frank|first=Joshua|date=October 20, 2004|title=The Collapse of Saddam's Secret Subway|url=http://www.antiwar.com/orig/mcwilliams.php?articleid=3820|url-status=live|website=Antiwar.com|publisher=|accessdate=2010-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020053754/http://www.antiwar.com/orig/mcwilliams.php?articleid=3820 |archive-date=2004-10-20 }}</ref>
At a December 2002 press conference, United States Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld spoke of "enormous miles and miles and miles of underground tunnelling" that prevented the United Nations from properly inspecting Saddam's WMD stocks.<ref name="tunnel">{{cite web|last=Tanner|first=Robert|date=April 9, 2003|title=U.S. Forces Investigate Iraqi Tunnels|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030409-tunnels01.htm|url-status=live|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=2010-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030427195341/http://www.globalsecurity.org:80/org/news/2003/030409-tunnels01.htm |archive-date=2003-04-27 }}</ref> Hussein al-Shahristani, a scientist imprisoned by Saddam, told CBS's ''60 Minutes'', "We believe now it is more than 100 kilometres of very complex network, multilayer tunnels."<ref name="tunnel" /> However, following the 2003 US invasion, no significant stockpiles of WMDs were ever found in Iraq.{{cn|date=November 2025}}
Since the 2003 Iraq War, traffic in Baghdad has increased significantly, because of the creation of the Green Zone, and the reduction of car-ownership regulations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hondros|first=Chris|date=June 2009|title=Baghdad Metro|url=http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0906/baghdad-metro.html|url-status=live|publisher=The Digital Journalist|accessdate=2010-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625202552/http://www.digitaljournalist.org:80/issue0906/baghdad-metro.html |archive-date=2009-06-25 }}</ref> In November 2008, Baghdad mayor Sabir Al-Isawi announced plans for $3 billion two-line extension that would break ground once funding is secured. One line would run from Sadr City (previously Al-Thawra or Saddam City) to Adhamiya, while the other would link the center of Baghdad with its western suburbs. Each line would have ~20 stations.<ref name="TheAge1">{{cite news |title= From roads to ruin, Baghdad gets back on track |url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/from-roads-to-ruin-baghdad-gets-back-on-track-20081118-6aax.html|newspaper= The Age |date= November 19, 2008| author = Martin Chulov}}</ref> In February 2011, an agreement was signed with Alstom, for the construction of a 25km line from central Baghdad to the northern suburbs of Adhamiya, Al-Hurriya, Kadhimiya, and Sha'ab.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2011/02/baghdad-metro-2/ |accessdate=2011-02-19 |title=BAGHDAD METRO |publisher=Railways Africa |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715151005/http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2011/02/baghdad-metro-2/ |archivedate=2011-07-15 }}</ref> Later in 2011 Alstom and the Iraqi government signed a memorandum of understanding for Alstom to design, build, and operate a Baghdad–Basra high-speed rail line.<ref name="ra">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/alstom-tapped-for-iraq-hsr-talks-3263.html |title=Alstom tapped for Iraq HSR talks |magazine=Railway Age |date=24 June 2011 |accessdate=27 June 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628235200/http://www.railwayage.com/breaking-news/alstom-tapped-for-iraq-hsr-talks-3263.html |archivedate=28 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2019, it was confirmed that a French-South Korean consortium would begin ground work on the metro in 2020, at a cost of $2.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 April 2019 |title=Construction of Baghdad Metro to start in 2020 |url=https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/story/Construction_of_Baghdad_Metro_to_start_in_2020-ZAWYA20190404103528/}}</ref>
In February 2022, it was announced the work would begin on the project in Q2 2022 and will finish in 2027, after sufficient funds for the project have been raised in the 2020-21 budgets and the future 2022 budget, which is still waiting for approval. The announcement came after the awarding of the projects to the French Alstom and the South Korean Hyundai.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 June 2022 |title=Baghdad metro funds to be included in budget |url=https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/construction/iraq-to-include-baghdad-metro-in-2022-budget-qlcfqfv2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=24 July 2022 |title=Baghdad elevated metro could revolutionize travel in congest capital |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-baghdad-elevated-metro-revolutionise-travel-congested-capital}}</ref>
In December 2022, it was announced that the Baghdad Metro would be included in the 2023 Ministry of Transport budget, the Metro will have 14 stations and will be 31km in length with construction starting in either 2023 or 2024. An announcement about the project was set to be made in Q1 of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Muhsen |first1=Majda |last2=Projects |first2=Zawya |title=Iraq's Ministry of Transport to include Baghdad Metro in 2023 budget |url=https://www.zawya.com/en/projects/construction/iraqs-ministry-of-transport-to-include-baghdad-metro-in-2023-budget-vx16vipw |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.zawya.com |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2024, it was announced that an international consortium consisting of French, Spanish and Turkish companies as well as Deutsche Bank were awarded $17.5 billion to construct Baghdad's metro.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Muhsen |first1=Majda |last2=Projects |first2=Zawya |title=Iraq's Ministry of Transport to include Baghdad Metro in 2023 budget |url=https://metrorailtoday.com/news/iraq-appointed-a-consortium-for-construction-of-175-billion-baghdad-metro-rail-project |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=metrorailtoday.com/}}</ref> The project is predicated upon the scheme of design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer, and is estimated to be completed in May 2029.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/metros/baghdad-metro-project-consortium-selected/67035.article|title=Baghdad metro project consortium selected|publisher=Railwaygazette}}</ref>
In July 2025, the Prime Minister's advisor for transportation affairs, Nasir al-Asadi, announced that the government had decided to "re-evaluate the financial and technical standards" of the project, emphasizing the government's wish not to be cursory with its implementation of "a sensitive project directly linked to the movement of citizens and their daily commutes" that therefore "must be implemented and financed in a sound and thoughtful manner". Al-Asadi also added that the project represented "the backbone of urban development" in Baghdad, and that "it must be built on precise and scientific foundations to ensure its efficiency and sustainability.".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ina.iq/ar/237738-.html|title=وفق أعلى المواصفات العالمية.. مستشار حكومي: آليات جديدة لتنفيذ مشروع مترو بغداد|publisher=Iraqi News Agency|language=ar}}</ref>
==Development== In 2017, ''Metro Report'' stated that a memorandum of understanding for the development of urban rail projects in Baghdad and Basra had been signed by the Iraqi government and Alstom that year, for a 20km elevated light rail line in Baghdad that would link Mustansiriyah, Shaab, Wazireya, Alsarafiya bridge, Al-Khadimia, Al-Muthanna airport and Allawi.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 December 2017 |title=Baghdad and Basra urban rail memorandum signed by Alstom |url=https://www.metro-report.com/news/single-view/view/baghdad-and-basra-urban-rail-memorandum-signed-by-alstom.html}}</ref>
As of February 2024, the current proposed plan consist of fully electric and automated (driverless) trains running on a railway system consisting of an underground tunnel portion as well as an elevated rail. It includes seven main lines with a total length of more than 148km, 64 metro stations, four workshops and depots for rolling stock and locomotives, numerous operations control centers (OCC), seven main power stations (MPS) with a capacity of 250MW, and several GSM towers.
The metro will be equipped with CCTV and internet as well as USB ports for charging, and special compartments will be allocated for women and children, as well as seats for people with special needs, pregnant women, and the elderly. The metro stations will be connected to other public transportation networks such as buses and taxis. The planned top speed will be 80-140 km/hour with an estimated 3.25 million riders per day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://investpromo.gov.iq/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3.-RFI-English-%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B0%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF-E-20.2.2024.pdf |title=Baghdad Metro Rail Project |publisher=Investpromo.gov.iq}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Transport in Baghdad Category:Transport in Iraq Category:Rail transport in Iraq Category:Proposed rapid transit