Azerbaijan, Georgia advance Middle Corridor with new rail reforms PHOTO

Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), a subsidiary of the AZCON holding, has hosted a high-level meeting with Georgian railway officials and representatives of relevant government agencies to advance reforms aimed at improving cross-border rail operations and strengthening the Middle Corridor.

Held at the Boyuk Kasik railway station, the talks focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, streamlining international freight and passenger transportation, and enhancing the efficiency of border crossing procedures between Azerbaijan and Georgia, Caliber.Az reports.

According to ADY, participants reviewed the current process for freight trains crossing the shared border, identified the main causes of delays, and discussed practical measures to reduce transit times. The meeting also examined ways to deepen regional transport connectivity and boost the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, a key trade route linking Asia and Europe.

A major focus of the discussions was the expansion of digital technologies and real-time electronic data exchange. The parties explored the introduction of live information sharing on trains and cargo between Azerbaijan Railways and Georgian Railways, as well as greater integration of the information systems used by customs authorities and other relevant state institutions. Several decisions were adopted to support the implementation of these initiatives.

The delegations also reviewed preparations for launching an additional passenger service on the Baku–Tbilisi route. To improve the travel experience, they emphasized the importance of simplifying border and customs procedures and introducing more flexible inspection mechanisms.

During a separate working session dedicated to freight transportation, the sides agreed to allow ADY electric locomotives to operate continuously along the Boyuk Kasik–Tbilisi–Boyuk Kasik route without requiring trains to be split at the border. They also endorsed a new approach to eliminate duplicate technical inspections of freight wagons.

Under the revised system, wagon inspections will be conducted only at Boyuk Kasik for trains traveling from Azerbaijan to Georgia and at Tbilisi Junction for trains traveling in the opposite direction, replacing the previous practice of inspections at both Boyuk Kasik and Georgia's Gardabani station.

According to ADY, the optimized procedures are expected to significantly streamline border crossings and reduce freight train transit times by as much as 50 percent. The new operating model has already been successfully tested.

The reforms are expected to mark a new stage in railway cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia by enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of cargo transport along the Middle Corridor. They are also expected to strengthen the resilience of regional supply chains, facilitate the addition of extra carriages to passenger trains, and provide greater operational flexibility for future rail services.

By Vafa Guliyeva