The Protocol of the 41st meeting of the Coordination Council for the implementation of the new “Baku-Tbilisi-Kars” railway line project, covering the restoration, reconstruction, and construction of the railway section up to the border of the Republic of Turkey (Kartsakhi), signed today within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), confirms the completion and final acceptance of the modernization works carried out on the BTK project.
This was reported to elchi by Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY).
This event was also marked by the launch of the “BTKI Railways” LLC joint venture, established by the subsidiaries of ADY and “Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway” LLC, with the aim of ensuring effective management of the BTK line.
In order to increase the capacity of the BTK, modernization works were carried out by Azerbaijan Railways CJSC in 2024 on a 184-kilometer section of the line passing through the territory of Georgia. The project, which consists of 5 stages, covers 13 railway stations, 55 bridges, 8 traction substations, and 320 buildings and artificial engineering structures (bridges, overpasses, crossings, etc.). Within the framework of the project, 30.3 km of new railway line was constructed, a wheelset changing station was built, and rehabilitation and reconstruction works were carried out on 153.1 km of the existing railway. The project was implemented in complex geographical terrain, in some areas at an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level and under harsh climatic conditions. As a result of the work performed, the annual freight capacity of the BTK has been increased from 1 million tons to 5 million tons.
“The goal of the modernization is to turn the BTK into one of the main freight arteries of the Middle Corridor and to increase the competitiveness of the corridor. This modernization makes the BTK more functional as one of the shortest and most flexible land routes stretching from China and Central Asia to Europe.
ADY has also carried out major repair works on the Azerbaijani side of the project – the Baku–Boyuk Kasik section – and updated the energy system. Last year, an alternating current system was applied from Boyuk Kasik to the Hajigabul section, and communication and signaling systems were reconstructed.
BTK is no longer just a railway connecting Baku, Tbilisi, and Kars; the modernized line will increase the freight capacity of the Middle Corridor, accelerate East-West trade flows, and strengthen Azerbaijan as a regional transit hub, creating a new balance in the Eurasian logistics system,” the statement says.
