Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08BAGHDAD48, PASSENGER RAIL'S RETURN HINTS AT CHALLENGES AND

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BAGHDAD48.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BAGHDAD48 2008-01-07 08:58 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Baghdad
VZCZCXRO5888
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0048/01 0070858
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070858Z JAN 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5130
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000048 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ELTN IZ
SUBJECT: PASSENGER RAIL'S RETURN HINTS AT CHALLENGES AND 
OPPORTUNITIES 
 
REF: 2007 BAGHDAD 2724 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY: On December 16 the Iraqi Republic Railway 
(IRR) renewed scheduled passenger service between Baghdad and 
Basrah for the first time since before the 2003 invasion. 
The first week of service was marred by two attacks--one 
suicide bomb and one IED--and a train-automobile collision 
under arguably suspicious circumstances.  Security challenges 
notwithstanding, the Office of the Transportation Attach 
(OTA) continues to work closely with the IRR and the Ministry 
of Transportation (MoT) to help them maximize the railway's 
commercial potential through infrastructure improvements, 
training, technical assistance, and capacity development.  In 
2008 several USG-funded, OTA-managed projects should enhance 
the railway's capacity to serve both Iraqi and Coalition 
customers.  The GOI must, however, invest more in the system 
and its security to solidify its role as an economic activity 
enabling transportation infrastructure.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------- 
PASSENGER RAIL RETURNS 
---------------------- 
 
2. (U) On December 16 the IRR renewed scheduled passenger 
service between Baghdad and Basrah for the first time since 
before the 2003 invasion.  The IRR now offers two trains per 
day, seven days per week, on the 552 kilometer (KM) route: a 
09:00 Baghdad to Basrah arriving in the evening and a 21:00 
Basrah to Baghdad arriving in the morning.  The trains 
average 40 KMs per hour and, passengers depending, stop at 
approximately 30 stations.  Each train set consists of a 
diesel locomotive, a power car, a sleeper, and three coaches; 
the sleeper holds a maximum of 80 passengers, and each coach 
holds 70.  Iraqis have shown interest in the service so far, 
drawn in part by the low fares.  A coach ticket sells for 
2400 Iraqi Dinar (ID) or approximately USD 2.  The sleepers 
have sold out completely, and the coaches have been 
approximately 60 percent full. 
 
---------------------------------- 
EXTREMISTS CHALLENGE RAIL SECURITY 
---------------------------------- 
 
3. (U) Scheduled passenger rail presents an easier target for 
extremists than the more irregular cargo service.  Extremists 
exploited this vulnerability at least twice during the first 
week of passenger service.  On December 19, a female suicide 
bomber detonated her charge outside a coach car at a station 
roughly 50 KMs south of Baghdad.  The explosion killed the 
attacker and derailed the car.  The IRR reported no other 
injuries.  On December 21, an IED prematurely detonated north 
of Latifiyah, killing the bomber and damaging the nearby 
track.  The explosion temporarily disrupted service, but 
injured nobody and damaged no other IRR equipment or 
facilities.  In addition to these attacks, on December 23 the 
southbound train collided with a minivan at a known rail 
crossing near Hillah.  The nature of the incident--suspicious 
or merely unfortunate--is still a matter of debate. (NOTE: 
The vehicle's driver had the wherewithal to flee the scene 
before impact, leaving the eleven remaining occupants of the 
van to die.  END NOTE.)  No injuries were reported on the 
train. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
IRR AND OTA WORKING TO UNLOCK THE NETWORK'S POTENTIAL 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4. (U) OTA continues to work closely with the IRR and the MoT 
to maximize the railway's commercial potential through 
infrastructure improvements, training, technical assistance 
and capacity development.  OTA's overarching goal is to help 
the IRR formulate a strategic vision for the network and 
adopt and implement a business model suited to that vision. 
Passenger rail is unlikely to be a significant revenue 
generator for the IRR with fares so inexpensive, but the 
state-run company's cargo service has greater potential. 
Presently the IRR runs an average of seven cargo trains per 
day.  Each cargo train consists of nine container cars, and 
USD 400 is a common tariff per container.  Current payloads 
include supplies for Iraqi and Coalition forces, heavy fuel 
oil for power plants, and bulk commodities from the Port of 
Umm Qasr. 
 
5. (U) Several USG-funded, OTA-managed projects should help 
the IRR serve its customers in 2008.  Two related 
projects--the Communications Based Train Control System 
(CBTC) and the Digital Microwave Radio Communications Network 
(DMRCN)--should be operational by mid-year.  The CBTC is a 
USD 14 million project that will modernize the IRR's 
antiquated system for directing train traffic, allowing 
technicians to manage the rail system from the Dispatching 
 
BAGHDAD 00000048  002 OF 002 
 
 
Department based in the Baghdad station.  The USD 38 million 
DMRCN is the CBTC's communications medium, comprised of 33 
microwave telecommunications towers positioned along the 
train routes.  The IRR has selected eleven technicians to be 
trained on the CBTC equipment in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the 
first quarter of 2008.  The technology and its Iraqi 
operators should improve both efficiency and safety of the 
railway network. 
 
6. (U) But fundamental challenges remain.  The light-weight 
track that runs from Basrah to Baghdad to Mosul needs 
replacing: it is over 60 years old and has been neglected 
since the Iran-Iraq war.  In addition, the IRR complains that 
the Rail Police, which formerly reported to the IRR itself 
but now falls under the Ministry of the Interior, are 
inexperienced and ineffective.  IRR employees report that 
militias and criminals associated with trucking cartels 
continue to threaten them. 
 
7. (U) COMMENT: The December attacks on the passenger rail 
service highlight the difficulty of securing the railway. 
OTA will continue to engage the MoT and the IRR to assist 
them in strategic planning, identifying priorities, 
developing a sound business model, and executing contracts to 
achieve their goals.  But greater MoT investment in railway 
security and new track will be essential to maintain and 
expand its passenger and cargo services.  Continued neglect 
of the system will leave underutilized the railway's latent 
potential to move people and goods into, out of, and through 
Iraq. 
CROCKER