Journal of Transportation Research

Journal of Transportation Research

The Vision and Mission of Iran's Railways in the 1424 horizon

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Ali Asghar Shafi Naderi
M.Sc., Grad., Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/tri.2025.540294.3368
Abstract
Between 2005, 2014, and 2020, the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways Company (RAI) developed three different vision and mission statements for the intercity railway sector. However, these documents were approved only at the board level and were never endorsed as binding national documents by the government or the parliament. As a result, they have not played an effective strategic role in guiding national objectives, institutional structures, or performance evaluation systems in this sector. The purpose of this study is to review and redesign the vision and mission statements for Iran’s intercity railway transportation based on scientific frameworks and international experience. For this purpose, the concepts and criteria of vision and mission development are first reviewed using the literature on strategic management and governance. Then, through a comparative document analysis, selected cases from Iran Railways, a foreign consultant, and several leading railway organizations and countries are examined. Based on the theoretical foundations and comparative findings, the proposed vision and mission presented in this paper define the desired future position of Iran’s railway sector over a 20-year horizon. They also identify key performance indicators, including technology, productivity, competitiveness, attractiveness, accessibility, safety, and the use of artificial intelligence, as criteria for monitoring progress. Finally, it is suggested that these updated statements be used as a legal basis for drafting a “Comprehensive Intercity Rail Transport Law of Iran” and for improving the governance structure of this sector.
Keywords
Strategic Vision
Organizational Mission
Railway Transport Governance
Iran Intercity Railway Transport
Transport Policy
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Subjects
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