The Price of Train Tickets for Migrants in Iran Increased by 50%
If the Iranian government has decided to raise transport fares for migrants who have legal residency in Iran, it is a discriminatory and unjust action
Although the increase in passenger train ticket prices has not yet been implemented, some railway companies are already applying higher rates for migrants and foreign nationals.
According to Mohajir Times, citing Tejarat News: Despite whispers and rumors of a fare hike, which was recently confirmed by the CEO of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, the second phase of summer train ticket pre-sales was conducted without any price changes.
However, ticket prices for passenger trains have increased for migrants and foreign nationals. For example, one of the passenger rail transport companies is selling tickets for the Qom-Mashhad route on July 15, 2024, for 924,000 Tomans. Yet, the same ticket for migrants and foreign nationals is priced at 1,385,000 Tomans, which is approximately 50% higher than the price for Iranian citizens.
Meanwhile, Hosseini Dara-i Sufi, a cultural and legal activist for Afghan migrants residing in Iran, states: "No official directives or regulations regarding the proposed increase have been published by the government in any official news outlets."
Mr. Dar-e-Sufi adds that there are two speculations on this matter: 1. The transport companies might have made this decision without consulting the government. If so, it is an arbitrary and illegal decision that will soon be stopped by the government. 2. A secret agreement between the government and the companies is also possible—if the government indeed supports this fare increase, it would be an unprecedented action and contrary to international norms.
Dar-e-Sufi states that in all countries where migrants have legal residency, transportation fares are the same for all residents. If the Iranian government has decided to raise transport fares for migrants who have legal residency in Iran, it is a discriminatory and unjust action.
However, he hopes that no such agreement has been made by the government and companies that have arbitrarily increased transport fares for legal migrants will be controlled and the fares to be equalized for both legal migrants and Iranian citizens.
