Two years pass since Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was commissioned. During this period, 275, 000 tons of cargo have been transported via this route.

AZTV.AZ reports it is expected that passenger transportation will be carried out through the railway in the near future. Thus, the Azerbaijani side is fully ready for passenger transportation via Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. Ten wagons have been purchased for exploitation, and 10 additional wagons are planned to be delivered next year. The testing of the brake system in wagons and locomotives is underway to ensure the safe movement of passenger trains that will operate on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route through the complex-terrain railway in the territory of Georgia.

According to chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov, there are problems connected with the brake system of the Georgian Railway's locomotives: “If the issue is not solved soon, Azerbaijan Railways will offer its own locomotives to the Georgian side. After this problem is solved, we can commission passenger trains. We will wait for 1-2 months, and if we see that the issue is not solved, then, we will offer our electric and diesel locomotives. We will try to reach an agreement so that we deliver them by ourselves not till the border, but till the Turkish border –Akhalkalaki”.

So far, 275, 000 tons of cargo have been transported through Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway that has been operating since October 30th, 2017. At the same time, according to "The memorandum of understanding on the cooperation through the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway route”, 1 million tons of coal have been transported from Russia through the railway in a short period of time, and it is planned to transport 3-5 million tons of coal, grain and metals in an average period. The China-Europe train consisting of 42 wagons, that entered our country last week, has made history. First, this is the first train operating from China to Europe through the “Middle Corridor” Railway Silk Road. Secondly, this is the first international cargo train going to Europe via the Marmaray Tunnel.

A new North-South corridor from Russia has also been created through Baku-Tbilisi-Kars. The transportation of steel to Turkey’s Iskenderun port has been launched via this corridor. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars has made the access of Central Asian countries to European and world markets easier. In the future, the attraction of cargo of European and Asian countries to this railway will increase the volume of multimodal transportations in two directions.

Azerbaijan’s transit possibilities have grown since Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway started operating. In the 9 months of this year, 24, 305 containers have been transported via Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC. It turn, it is a 43,5 percent increase compared to the relevant period of last year. The number of containers from China should be especially mentioned. Thus, the number of containers from China has risen and made 2, 610 compared to the relevant period of last year.