Tehran Metro Line 1

Tehran Metro Line 1
Overview
Native nameخط ۱ مترو تهران
OwnerTehran Urban and Suburban Railways Organization (Metro)
LocaleTehran, Tehran Province
Termini
Stations29+3 (Including IKIA branch)
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemTehran Metro
Operator(s)Tehran Urban and Suburban Railways Organization (Metro)
Depot(s)Tehran-South Depot
History
Opened28 August 2001 (Initially)
30 November 2023 (Most recent)
Technical
Line length92 km (57 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
ElectrificationThird rail
Operating speed80 km/h (main line)
120 km/h (IKIA branch)

Tehran Metro Line 1, coloured red on system maps, runs north–south and is 92 kilometers (57 mi) of which 14.9 km (9.3 mi) is underground (from Tajrish station to Shush Station) and the rest at grade (at surface level). The number of stations along the main line is 29 of which 22 stations are underground and 7 above. The Airport branch has another three stations, all at grade. As of 2005, the line's total capacity is 650,000 passengers per day and trains make a scheduled stop of 20 seconds per station. The trains are made up of seven wagons, giving a nominal capacity of 1,300 seated and standing passengers. The maximum speed of the trains is 80 km/h (50 mph) per hour, in practice tempered to an average 45 km/h (28 mph) due to station stops, but 120 km/h (75 mph) on the Airport branch, so travel time for the 49 km (30 mi) from Shahed - Bagher Shahr Metro Station (short Shahed station) to Parand is just 34 minutes.

Line 1 runs mostly north–south, and from Shahed station has interchange platforms for its extension to Imam Khomeini International Airport completed in August 2017 and extended to Parand November 2023.

The first stage of the line was from Mirdamad station to Shahed station and opened in August 2001. A 4.1-kilometer (2.5 mi), three-station extension of the line from Mirdamad station to Qolhak opened on May 20, 2009; a 4-kilometer (2.5 mi), four-station second phase from Qolhak to Tajrish Square was completed in 2012. Construction was to be completed by March 2007 but faced major issues due to large boulders and rock bed in part of the tunnels as well as water ingress/drainage issues. It also faced major financing issues as the government refused to release funds earmarked for the project to the municipality.