Date set for groundbreaking of railway line connecting Türkiye, Azerbaijan

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Kars-Igdir-Aralik-Dilucu railway line, part of the Zangazur Corridor, will take place on August 22 in the city of Igdir, Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said, Report informs via Anadolu.

Once operational, the Zangazur Corridor will enhance the efficiency of the East-West route stretching from Beijing to London, the minister stated.

He emphasized that the new railway will strengthen freight and passenger transport in eastern Türkiye, boost the country's logistics capabilities, and solidify the country's geostrategic position as a safe haven on trade routes extending to Asia.

Uraloğlu revealed that the project has secured €2.4 billion in external financing through efforts led by Türkiye’s Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

“We will construct a 224-kilometer-long, double-track, electrified, and signaled railway. The line will have the capacity to transport 5.5 million passengers and 15 million tons of freight annually. The project includes the construction of 24 tunnels, 10 bridges, 144 underpasses, 27 overpasses, and 480 culverts,” he said.

The minister highlighted that this railway is a critical segment of the Zangazur Corridor, which aims to connect Nakhchivan with other regions of Azerbaijan.

“This line will create an uninterrupted rail link between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. The production potential of Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia will reach foreign markets more quickly, while the tourism potential of the Mediterranean will increase,” Uraloglu added.

He noted that the railway will also reinforce the Trans-Caspian and North-South corridors, strengthen Eurasian logistics and supply networks, and place Türkiye at the center of regional cooperation. The project is expected to boost both rail and road freight capacity along the Middle Corridor.