ADY Express, the rail freight arm of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), launched the first express container block train service on the Azerbaijan–Georgia route at the end of January. “Under the agreements reached, ADY Express will operate express container block train services on a regular basis — weekly and according to an approved schedule,” ADY said in a statement.
“The express container block trains will operate on the Poti / Batumi – Port of Alat – Absheron Station – Sumgayit Freight Terminal route and in the reverse direction,” the company added. The new service aims to increase the speed and efficiency of freight transportation along the Middle Corridor, strengthening both the corridor and Azerbaijan’s position as a key logistics hub in the region as well as ADY’s use and attractions.
Growing links with Georgia and beyond
The meeting also reflects a deepening relationship between the two countries and their railway companies as Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of ADY met with Lasha Abashidze, Director General of Georgian Railways. The two sides discussed increasing freight volumes, optimising tariffs and delivery times and exchanged views on the work carried out to develop the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway line.
Moreover, the parties emphasised new agreements between BTKI Railways LLC and Georgian Railways JSC on the use of the Marabda–Akhalkalaki railway infrastructure and the provision of terminal services at station. ADY has also discussed cooperating with leading logistics companies and ports in Georgia, such as Batumi Seaport and Georgia’s leading logistics company, PACE Group, which operates a terminal at the port of Poti.
Nakhchivan and Turkey being considered too
Another place where the emergence of Azerbaijan as leader is being felt is an enclave separated from it by a strip of Armenian territory – Nakhchivan. Here the EU and Azerbaijan, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, are developing a feasibility study for the Nakhchivan railway project.
Beyond both Armenia and the enclave is a big prize – Turkiye and, beyond it, Europe. Already a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between ADY and Turkish State Railways. The pact will cover areas such as infrastructure, traffic management, staff training and exchanging information as well as how to develop joint solutions.
Looking East
ADY is not the only Azerbaijani company looking to neighbours for business. A working meeting was held in Baku between a delegation from Turkmenistan headed by the director of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, Parahat Dzhumaev, and the director of Baku International Sea Port, Eldar Salahov.
The two sides also discussed issues such as developing the Caspian Sea – Black Sea corridor including the prospects for increasing cargo transportation through the ports of Turkmenbashi, Baku, Poti, Batumi, and Constanta. “Emphasising the global nature and broad prospects of this corridor, the meeting participants also considered issues of establishing effective information exchange,” the Turkmen ministry said.
Kazakhstan gets involved
Across the Caspian, Kazakhstan is doing its bit for the Middle Corridor with construction of key railway lines to be completed and the laying of the Kyzylorda–Aktobe mainline to begin, the Minister of Transport said. Construction continues on the new lines Kyzylzhar–Moyynty and Darbaza–Maktaaral, as well as the modernization of existing sections Altynkol–Zhetygen and Zhezkazgan–Seksеul. These facilities will be completed within the current year, the minister added.
From China with cargo
Some cargo is already starting to move along the developing Middle Corridor. The first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train from north China’s Tianjin to Baku, Azerbaijan, departed in January, according to China’s official media. Operated by China Railway Beijing Group, the train travels via Khorgos Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before traversing Kazakhstan and ultimately being shipped across the Caspian Sea to Baku.
This new route adds a stable and efficient freight channel connecting Tianjin with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and other countries, Yang Junyong from Tianjin Container Center Station, said. Spanning a journey of approximately 7,000 kilometers in about 20 days, the route cuts travel time by around 10 days compared to traditional sea transport, according to Yang. It’s a glittering prize but one with a lot of work needing to be done and many others need to catch up with the work of companies like ADY.