The new Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line will officially begin operations on June 2, Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development has announced.
Ministry says the railway is a joint strategic project of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, designed to strengthen transport connectivity between Europe and Asia and enhance the region’s role as a key transit corridor.
The ministry said the railway will create additional transport capacity, contribute to the diversification of freight routes, and improve regional connectivity.
Based on the official information, the Marabda-Kartsakhi section of the railway is 180 kilometers long. As part of the project, 153 kilometers of existing railway infrastructure were rehabilitated and reconstructed, while a new 27-kilometer railway segment built to European standards was added.
The ministry noted that freight traffic on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route has been increasing annually. With the railway now entering full operation, its cargo-handling capacity is expected to rise to 5 million tons per year, enabling the region to accommodate additional freight flows and strengthen its transport and logistics capabilities.
Officials said the full launch of the railway became possible following the signing of a protocol by Georgian Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili and Azerbaijani Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev during Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s recent visit to Baku.
