Georgian Railways announced multiple initiatives to boost traffic along the Baku-Tbilis-Kars (BTK), one of the vital arteries of the Middle Corridor. The company is planning to start construction of the new terminal in Akhalkalaki, near the border with Türkiye, in 2026. Moreover, the company wants to introduce electronic customs clearance to reduce transit time.
Both initiatives were shared by Lasha Abashidze, General Director of Georgian Railways during the V Tbilisi Silk Way Forum, as Azerbaijani media APA said. The construction of the facility in Akhalkalaki was not a secret, but Abashidze has now revealed that it will start next year.
At the same event, Abashidze shared that Georgia is working on introducing electronic customs clearance along the BTK line. This, according to him, will slash transit time from 22-24 hours to just 12. Customs clearance remains one of the main hurdles in international and intercontinental transport, especially for rail freight.
Don’t forget about the Zangezur Corridor
Another point of discussion during the event was the Zangezur Corridor. The plan is to build a railway connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan, located between Armenia and Türkiye. However, due to geopolitical tensions between Azerbaijan and Türkyie, the construction of this line seems unlikely.
Recent developments, including the intervention of US President Donald Trump, turned it into a very concrete possibility. The line would create a network running south of the BTK line, providing two arteries to connect Baku (and thus the Caspian Sea) and Türkiye (and thus Europe) along the Middle Corridor.
European Silk Road Summit
The rise of alternative (rail) routes to connect Europe and Asia will be a focal point of the upcoming European Silk Road Summit, organised by RailFreight.com. Join us in Milan on 19 and 20 November to talk Middle Corridor developments, Eurasia market trends and important digitalisation projects. Check out the programme here and get your ticket here.