Deputy minister: Baku–Tbilisi rail revival to boost trade and tourism

The restoration of passenger rail service between Baku and Tbilisi after a six-year suspension is expected to boost economic cooperation and tourism flows between Azerbaijan and Georgia, Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Tamar Ioseliani, said.

Speaking to journalists, Ioseliani emphasized that the resumption of the Baku–Tbilisi–Baku route carries not only practical but also symbolic importance, as it reconnects the two capitals through direct rail links for the first time in years.

“It is symbolic that after a six-year break, railway communication between the two capitals is being restored for the first time. This means that the two cities are once again directly connected. This step will contribute both to economic development and to the growth of tourist flows, as well as create conditions for further strengthening ties between the two countries,” she said.

According to Ioseliani, the renewed rail connection is expected to facilitate increased mobility between the countries, supporting both business activity and cross-border travel, while reinforcing broader bilateral relations.

The development comes as the first passenger train in six years on the Baku–Tbilisi–Baku route, operated by Azerbaijan Railways, arrived in Tbilisi earlier on Tuesday, marking the official relaunch of the service.

By Tamilla Hasanova