The railway companies of Kazakhstan and Georgia are introducing a new digital system for the exchange of transport documents. “The customs inspection time for container trains on Georgian territory has been reduced from 8-9 hours to 40 minutes”, according to KTZ Express.
“KTZ Express’ IT division implemented secure VPN channels and created a comprehensive technical infrastructure to ensure the prompt transfer of a complete data package for shipping documents, SMGS consignment notes, and issued transit declarations”, the company explained. In other words, Georgian Railways is now able to receive container information much in advance, speeding up customs procedures.
Middle Corridor container traffic
Container transport along the Middle Corridor, a route where Kazakhstan and Georgia both play a key role in connecting Asia and Europe, has been on the rise. The number of containers travelling on this corridor grew by 15% between 2024 and 2025, reaching 36,000 TEUs. Despite the still relatively low figures (most of the goods still take the northern route via Russia), the Middle Corridor is showing real potential. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of container trains grew 26 times, from 11 to 287.