Final acceptance protocol on completion of BTK's modernization approved

On May 18, with the participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Azerbaijan's Transport and Digital Devlopment Minister Rashad Nabiyev and Georgia's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mariam Kvrivishvili signed the Protocol of the 41st meeting of the Coordination Council for the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and construction of the railway section from Marabda to the border of the Republic of Turkiye (Kartsakhi) within the framework of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars new railway project.

The document's signing represents an approval of the completion and final acceptance of the modernization works implemented as part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) project.

The event also marked the launch of the joint venture BTKI Railways LLC, established by subsidiaries of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) and Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway LLC, to ensure effective management of the BTK line.

To enhance the capacity of BTK railway, modernization works were carried out in 2024 by ADY on the 184‑kilometer section passing through Georgia. The five‑phase project spanned 13 railway stations, 55 bridges, 8 traction substations, 320 buildings, and multiple engineering structures (bridges, overpasses, crossings, etc.).

As part of the project, 30.3 km of new railway line was constructed, a wheelset replacement station was established, and rehabilitation and reconstruction works were completed on 153.1 km of the existing railway. The project was implemented in challenging geographic terrain, in some areas at altitudes of up to 2,400 meters above sea level and under harsh climatic conditions. As a result, the annual freight capacity of the BTK line increased from 1 million tons to 5 million tons.

The purpose of the modernization is to transform BTK into one of the main freight arteries of the Middle Corridor and to enhance the corridor's competitiveness. This upgrade makes BTK a more functional route, positioning it as one of the shortest and most flexible overland link connecting China and Central Asia with Europe. On the Azerbaijani part of the project, ADY completed major repair works along the Baku–Boyuk Kasik section and upgraded the energy system. Last year, a Boyuk Kasik-Hajıgabul section of BTK shifted to alternating current, while communication and signaling systems were also modernized.

The BTK is no longer just a railway connecting Baku, Tbilisi, and Kars. With modernization, the line will significantly boost the Middle Corridor's freight capacity, accelerate East–West trade flows, reinforce Azerbaijan's role as a regional transit hub, and create a new balance within the Eurasian logistics system.