Georgia launches test train on BTK railway

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Launching ceremony of a test train in the Georgian part of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was held in Kartsakhi-Akhalkalaki, Georgia on January 28.

The event was attended by George Kvirikashvili, Georgian Economy Minister and Ziya Mammadov, Azerbaijani Transport Minister.

Many other guests including Oleg Bichiashvili, Director of “Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway” LLC and Akaki Machutadze, GOVERNOR of Samtskhe-Javakheti also took part at the ceremony.

Kvirikashvili and Mammadov were briefed on the completed work. They underlined the project's significance and perspectives.

Before the opening ceremony Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia and Mammadov met to discuss cooperation in the field of transport, paying special attention to the BTK railway.

The new railway, which will connect Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey together is planned to be opened by late 2015.

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is being constructed based on the Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkish interstate agreement. The project is funded by the Azerbaijani State Oil Foundation in accordance with the country’s head decree on “Realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project” since February 21, 2007.

The capacity of the corridor will be 17 million tons per year. At the initial stage, the figure will be one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line is effective from an economic point of view. It is stable, and fully complies with environmental standards. It means the beginning of a new stage in the transport development.

This railway line will expand the multi-modal transportation opportunities and ensure the growth of passenger and freight transportation.

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India have shown their interest in the project.