Introduction

The double-track, electrified Esfahan–Ahvaz railway (with a total length of 504 km) is one of the most significant approved national railway development projects in Iran, listed under budget code 1303015048 in the national budget laws from 2015  to 2021. Among the various railway development projects, this corridor has the highest rail freight demand. Its implementation will result in a fundamental transformation in the performance and efficiency of the national railway network. By eliminating the current transportation bottleneck in the southeastern region, the project will enhance the economic and industrial conditions of Khuzestan Province, facilitate the expansion of rail connectivity to Imam Khomeini Port, and provide rail access to a large part of the Zagros region, especially the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari area. As a result, this project is considered as one of the few high-priority projects within the National Comprehensive Transport Plan, enjoying broad agreement among senior managers and experts in the country’s railway sector. The implementation and operation of the Esfahan–Ahvaz railway axis, like other railway projects, will entail a series of both positive and negative environmental consequences. Therefore, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for this project is being conducted in accordance with the executive guidelines for preparing EIA reports, as approved by the Supreme Council for the Environment, and in line with the official Terms of Reference for the studies. This process aims to anticipate and analyze the environmental impacts of the project, propose appropriate mitigation measures for adverse effects, and develop a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP).