China to dispatch 50 block trains per month via Azerbaijan

Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways company Rovshan Rustamov has said that rail freight on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) route is set to increase significantly in intensity.

“The BTK line had been inactive for about a year. Starting next year, freight transportation on this rail line will become more intensive. We have already reached an agreement for the transportation of goods from China via the BTK route,” he said, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media. 

Rustamov added that on August 13, Azerbaijan Railways and Georgian Railways established a joint venture named BTKI Railways. "The enterprise will commence operations soon. BTKI Railways will oversee the operation and management of the Marabda-Kartsakhi section of the BTK route, focusing on optimizing freight transportation and attracting new cargo. The joint efforts of Azerbaijan and Georgia through this venture will also aim to strengthen regional transport connections and enhance the potential of the Middle Corridor," he stressed.

Rustamov noted that China aims to increase the volume of cargo transported via the Middle Corridor.

"The number of block trains departing from China has exceeded our expectations. This year, 190 block trains have traversed the corridor, and we anticipate over 250 block trains by year-end. Next year, we plan to dispatch 50 block trains per month through the corridor. Shipments from eastern China via the Middle Corridor have already commenced," he added. 

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) route is a significant transportation corridor that connects Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, facilitating the movement of goods between Asia and Europe. The BTK railway project was initiated to create a direct rail link between the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, enhancing connectivity between the regions of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Europe.