Georgian Railway (GR) and Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) have signed an agreement for a block train between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The block train will make the return of empty containers faster and, GR hopes, induce a shift from road to rail.
“Following the successful operation of the Poti–Tbilisi–Poti route, Georgian Railway has introduced a new block train service from Georgia’s ports to Baku”, the operator writes. “The train will run along the Batumi–Poti–Tbilisi–Absheron–Sumgayit–Alat corridor, linking the Black Sea ports with Azerbaijan’s largest terminals on a fixed schedule.”
Thanks to the fixed schedule, customers will benefit from faster container delivery from Poti to Baku and enjoy complete transparency regarding transit times and the prompt return of empty containers, GR says.
Time and costs
“This is a streamlined logistics solution for cargo owners, ensuring that containers from Batumi, Poti, and Tbilisi reach Baku—and vice versa—within clearly defined timelines, without delays”, comments Lasha Abashidze, General Director of Georgian Railway.
“Beside time-saving, customers will also benefit from reduced costs, as storing cargo and empty containers at terminals typically involves daily fees. Georgian Railway continues to enhance its logistics services with the goal of transporting more freight and thereby increasing the company’s revenue.”