Tasnim � Iran�s state-run railway company has launched a special train service provided for pilgrims planning to visit Iraq during the Arbaeen season, the company�s chief announced.

Managing Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, known as RAJA, Mohammad Rajabi said that the special train service has been launched from the northeastern holy city of Mashhad to the capital Tehran and then to the western city of Kermanshah near the Iraqi border.

He said because the nearest border is the Mehran border crossing in Kermanshah, the special train service was launched from Mashhad to Kermanshah.

The official added that once pilgrims arrive in Kermanshah, a bus would transfer them to the Mehran border crossing.

Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).

Each year, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.

Iranian pilgrims traveling to Iraq by land can choose from three border crossings, Shalamcheh, Chazzabeh and Mehran.

This year�s Arbaeen falls on October 30.